Did You VoteOrNot.org?

WhiskerBiscuit writes "The boys at Am I Hot or Not have started a sweepstakes to encourage people to register to vote. According to this blogger's analysis, the contest should encourage disempowered people to register (subject to the constraint that poor people don't have computers). The organizers have cleverly split the prize between a lucky winner and whoever happens to have referred them, providing a selection advantage for viral dispersal of the meme."

Comments

How about encouraging them to register

[Marxist Hacker 42]

By actually giving them a candidate they can agree with?

To bad for the rest of us.

[agent dero]

Shortly after turning 18 I registered to vote

By voting, I can bitch and moan about politics all I want, because I'm actively trying to change it with my little bit of power

Re:To bad for the rest of us.

[HMA2000]

Even if you don't vote it is your god given right to complain. The idea that if you don't vote you can't complain is a platitude that makes no sense if you apply even a second of analysis to it.

Re:To bad for the rest of us.

[TopShelf]

Oh you can certainly complain if you don't vote, but it undermines your credibility. Why should anyone care about the political opinion of someone who can't even be bothered to vote?

Re:To bad for the rest of us.

[Anonymous Coward]

By voting, I can bitch and moan about politics all I want, because I'm actively trying to change it with my little bit of power

If you want to change things, you'd be a lot better off getting as rich as possible.

The USA is essentially a two-party system with both parties being very similar. It's a two-party system because people believe that it's a two party system. That's where the money comes in - you aren't going to change the system unless you get to convince millions of people that it isn't a two-party system. Good luck doing that without lots of money.

If you are willing to accept the two party system, your vote is utterly meaningless, as they are pretty similar on most issues. Whichever way you vote, the same laws will get enacted, etc. The way to change this without going outside the two party system is to convince your representative that your interests are important. Again, this is where the money comes in. There's a reason why organisations like the RIAA get your representatives to listen to them and enact the laws they want, and it all revolves around money.

So if you want to change the world, forget about voting, and start getting greedy. Democracy, as practiced in the USA, is dead.

Re:To bad for the rest of us.

[ImaLamer]

By voting, I can bitch and moan about politics all I want, because I'm actively trying to change it with my little bit of power

I think a George Carlin quote (or two) is in order:

Next time they give you all that civic bullshit about voting, keep in mind that Hitler was elected in a full, free democratic election.

and my personal favorite:

Think it through: if you vote, and you elect dishonest, incompetent politicians, and they screw things up, then you're responsible for what they've done. You voted them in. You caused the problem. You have no right to complain

Re:To bad for the rest of us.

[Flower]

True, you can always complain, but it weakens your position immensely when you couldn't even be bothered to put your money where your mouth is.

It is not as if an American has to go through compulsory military service or run the risk of getting their tounge cut out and stuffed in a shirt pocket by exercising their right to vote. It's not as if it takes a lot of effort to be aware of the canidates or the issues - especially this time around. And it isn't that hard to get up and actually vote. Need a ride? Call City Hall and they'll hook you up. In another state? Go get a ballot sent to you.

People who are so hyped on exercising their right to free speech just so they can vent vacuous opinions then forgo exercising the one right that gives all those opinions purpose boggles my mind.

Re:To bad for the rest of us.

[Anonymous Coward]

Uh not to question Mr. Carlin, but has he heard of the night of long knives? Full, free democratic would not be the way to describe Germany circa 1932.

Re:To bad for the rest of us.

[Yokaze]

Yes, you'd actually accomplished the complicated task of moving your body from your home to the nearest place where you can vote, and sacrificed a small part of your invaluable time.

The vote for Mickey Mouse would show, you do care enough to do at least so much, but you are unsatisfied with the choice.

Finally, an election is not about marrying the candidate. You don't have to like the candidate, you just have to like his political program better than the other one(s) program(s).

Re:To bad for the rest of us.

[tsg]

Why should anyone care about the political opinion of someone who can't even be bothered to vote?

The assumption you're making is that the only reason people don't vote is because they're too lazy to.

If half the people have lost faith in the system, it's the system that is broken, not the people.

Re:To bad for the rest of us.

[tsg]

Complaining about the state of affairs when you haven't voted is like complaining that it's too hot in your car when all you have to do is roll the window down.

This is, of course, assuming that rolling the window down will make it cooler.

Re:To bad for the rest of us.

[Hatta]

Wrong, by voting you are accepting the limited choices presented to you. As Thoreau said, "Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it, it is merely expressing feebly your desire that it should prevail." Change will come through direct action by the people, not by picking the fat cat you find least objectionable.

Re:To bad for the rest of us.

[Yokaze]

> "Next time they give you all that civic bullshit about voting, keep in mind that Hitler was elected in a full, free democratic election"

And how is this an argument against "civic bullshit"?

Fact is, Hitler didn't get the majority of the votes (in the last free democratic election 33%).
The reason why he gained so much power, was because of a lack of such "civic bullshit".

> "Think it through: [...]"

I wish, one would. Not voting is as good as voting for whoever gets the post. Not voting is a valid choice. But also one for which you are responsible.

Re:To bad for the rest of us.

[Minna Kirai]

I was going to say that, but thank you for doing it.

And what's that supposed to show, exactly? Hitler was elected in 1932, and the "Night of Long Knives" was July 1, 1934.

If you want to prove that Hitler's election was fraudulent or coerced, you'll can't argue based on events two years later.

Vote or shut up!

[jarich]

Seriously, if you don't care enough to vote, then you shouldn't be complaining about the result.

Voter registration is web available in my county... it's amazing how few people on my street are even registered!

Vote republican. Vote democrat. Vote anything, just vote!

Re:Vote or shut up!

[Monx]

I will continue to bitch and not vote until we ditch the two party system or I die

Then vote for a third party candidate! If you just fail to vote, nobody in power cares. If you vote for a third party candidate, then at least you show up as yet another person who doesn't like the two-party system. People who don't vote get lumped together as lazy and irresponsible whether they do it from sloth or in protest against the system. BTW: if you register with a third party affiliation, the folks in power notice that too.

People who are eligible to vote but don't and still have the gall to complain make me sick.

I'd like to see mandatory voting with a "none of the above" option and a 50% +1 majority to win with runoffs as needed.

Re:Vote or shut up!

[jadavis]

Why encourage other people to vote? I'd rather be 1 out of 100 registered voters than 1 out of 100 million registered voters.

What we're really doing when we scrape for more votes is we tell the people who have only seen the rhetoric and catch phrases to make a decision.

People who don't understand economics are just not going to make good decisions at the polls. People who do not understand the structure of our government are not going to make good decisions at the polls (Do states have any individual power anymore? Not really, everything is Federal now because not enough voters know the difference. So much for the United States of America.).

People who don't understand these concepts have a right to vote. But why are we encouraging them?

My theory is that when these people do vote, they vote primarily for one party, and that is the party that encourages them to vote. I don't see much altruism in the "get out the vote" crowd at all.

Re:Virals and sweeps...

[drinkypoo]

You have to enter your real name in the form. If you win and it turns out to be a psuedonym, they'll probably disqualify you. Sure they will be flooded with useless traffic but ALL their traffic is useless so what's the problem? :)

Don't vote, don't bitch

[onyxruby]

Think of this vote as your right to bitch for the next four years. If you don't vote you have no right to complain, because you could have done something about it, and didn't.

Now if you do vote, than by all means, bitch and complain. Ever wonder why younger people always get shafted by congress and the elderly wield lots of power? One reason, and one reason only for this, young people don't vote and elderly people do.

500 some votes put W in power, (never mind contested stuff), so dont ever think your vote doesn't count.

Re:Don't vote, don't bitch

[lpangelrob2]

I'm not the biggest fan of this reasoning. You have a right to complain even if you made an informed decision not to vote for either candidate in any race.

Submitting an empty ballot can be an individually powerful message. It tells both parties that "Hey, I don't like either of you guys. Come up with something that better suits me in the future". Selfish, perhaps, but seeing as they're public servants, better to let them know this way than by idlly letting someone else decide for you.

Re:Don't vote, don't bitch

[mrmtampa]

IMO those of us who we're drafted (dating myself) into the Armed Services have earned permanent bitching rights. Actively choosing not to vote is also participating.

I think it would be much more constructive...

[Jhon]

to spend time and effort trying to increase awareness of local/state/federal issues -- an INFORMED voter is much more important than getting someone who is too apathetic to even register to vote to get up off his/her arse and actually VOTE. An uninformed vote is as bad (arguably worse) than just flipping a coin.

"Disempowered" indeed. It takes virtually no time to register and virtually no time to apply for and fill out an absentee ballot. Voting is easy and cost free (other than the effort it takes to take pen to paper).

Terrible idea

[JohnTheFisherman]

This is a terrible idea, for the same reason the Motor Voter Bill was. Get a bunch of people registered who were otherwise too lazy to do so, when it's illegal to ask for ID at the polls, and not even required for absentee ballots? Great. Just what we need. More ballots floating around for people who can't be bothered to sign up to vote. I'm sure they'll keep track of their ballots and not let other people steal them because they might WIN FREE STUFF.

Vote early, vote often.

Re:Terrible idea

[Jonboy X]

Frankly, even if the otherwise lazy people actually followed through and voted, I'm not sure it'd be in the country's best interest for them to do so. By encouraging people who really don't care about anything but a free iPod to vote, you effectively dilute the votes of people who genuinely do care about issues that affect them, or are at least willing to put forth the effort required to become an informed voter. I'd start in with some vague ramblings about how apathetic people tend to vote for the incumbents just because they've heard the name, and maybe the people pushing for greater voter participation just want to keep things the way they are...but I don't really want to go there, and my tin-foil hat's at the cleaner's.

Re:Terrible idea

[mcmonkey]

my tin-foil hat's at the cleaner's

1. Unless you run a focused campaign, voter registration drives most likely have no short term effects on election outcome.

Across the US of A, non-voter demographics and party/candidate affiliations are pretty darn close to those of voters. Hopefully, there is a long term effect of more people getting involved in the process and continuing to vote, but something as unfocused as VoteOrNot is highly unlikely to turn the election to one side or the other.

2. Without dropping down to the level of personal attack and troll, attitudes like those expressed by the parent poster make me want to puke. "_______ is better off not voting." (blacks\women\lazy\whomever we don't like this week) F' you, ya F'in fascist.

Do you meet the constitutional legal requirements to vote? (Age/residency/ whatever) If yes, then register and vote. Get all your news from GameSpot? Fine, vote. Can't be any worse than someone who gets all their news from the 700 club. Lazy? We need your vote. Do you really want the fate of the nation decided by the freaks who actually went to morning classes in college?

By encouraging people who really don't care about anything but a free iPod to vote, you effectively dilute the votes of people who genuinely do care about issues that affect them, or are at least willing to put forth the effort required to become an informed voter.

I watch Fox news every day. And nothing else. Am I an informed voter?

I watch The Daily Show. When there isn't a good re-run of Family Guy on 'toon. Am I an informed voter?

Saddam tried to kill my daddy. WMD? Look at this monkey! Am I an informed voter?

Bottom line, voting, and encouraging others to vote, is just about the most patriotic thing a USA citizen can do. Discouraging anyone meeting the legal requirements from voting borders on treason. Who the hell are you, who is anyone, to decide how much someone needs to care, or what they need to care about to vote? If someone registers and votes, what other effort is required? Instead of 'informed voter' why don't you just come out and say 'literacy test' aka recite this passage from the new testament in latin, oh fine! Let's not beat around the bush, Rich White Men! Cause no one else knows enough, or cares enough, right? So we'll just let ole whitey take care of everything.

oh man...that's not gonna help the karma.

Re:Terrible idea

[ConceptJunkie]

California seems to go out of their way to facilitate voter fraud. Maybe that's because 25% of their electorate aren't U.S. citizens?

Re:"Exclude stories" not working?

[GigsVT]

There's no other politics.slashdot.org, so there's no need for the distinction.

I don't understand why there is so much bitching and whining about this. If I read a German tech news site frequently, I wouldn't be surprised if they opened a politics section that talked only about German politics, I'd expect it!

Re:Interesting discussion on the radio...

[rainman_bc]

Then don't waste your time voting. Chose the lesser of evils because they represent your voice.

The argument "they are all crap" is horseshit. They all stand for different things, and you pick the one closest. Remember, you aren't supporting them; you're also asking them to support you when they are in office.

You should vote in respect for the people throughout the world who die fighting for their right to vote. It's disrepesctful of those who've died for the right to vote to spoil your ballot.

Democracy isn't perfect, but it sure as hell is better than any other alternative out there.

But voting is not rational

[catbutt]

It's not in your interest to vote, at least not from a game theory perspective. Voting takes effort, and the benefit you recieve directly from your act of voting is insignificantly small comparatively. If you want to say "but what if everybody didn't vote?", hit wikipedia for some game theory background first...

(and before you mod me down for discouraging voting...i vote and don't expect anyone not to based on this argument....but I'd just like to see a good countering argument)

Spam

[dv8ed]

The organizers have cleverly split the prize between a lucky winner and whoever happens to have referred them, providing a selection advantage for viral dispersal of the meme.

That's a hell of a lot of words to say that it encourages people to spam.

Democrat tactic.....

[jsimon12]

Hmmmm, this whole registar to vote thing seems stronger then ever. Seems like the libreals are depending on people who generally don't vote to turn the tide.

Re:How about fuck voting

[Linnwood]

God, will you quit posting your shit in these politcal threads? wtf!

"Get Out and Vote!" = Dangerous

[Kombat]

I've said this before, so I'll make my point quickly: I think it is a very bad idea to blindly encourage people to vote. PSA's that preach, "I don't care how you vote, just so long as you do" are dangerous. The truth is, not everybody is equipped to vote. The majority of people don't vote, because the majority of poeple don't have a clue what the candidates platforms are. People don't take the time to get informed. They hear a little newsbyte here, or some rumour in the coffee room there, then go and pick the guy who looks nicer.

My point is, when you encourage ignorant, apathetic people to vote, you're canceling out the votes of those who actually bothered to research the issues and make an informed decision. Voting is far too important to be left to the ignorant, apathetic, sub-100-IQ TV-addicted beer-chuggers.

Just my opinion.

I'm not signing up

[DoubleDownOnEleven]

One of the first things I did when I moved for college is register to vote, as I think it's an important civic duty. However, I won't be signing up for this sweepstakes, because I feel it cheapens the entire point. One should not be registering for the opportunity to win some free money! I think the money would be better spent in attempting to educate people on why they should WANT to register to vote, and take the time to become EDUCATED voters.

6 on one hand, half dozen on the other

[AssFace]

I no longer live in the States.

That means that if I want to vote, then it counts towards the state in which I last lived... in my case Massachusetts. MA has been democrat for presidential elections for a long time, so I'm not exactly thinking my vote is going to mean much.
That and I am in fact aware of how the electoral college works, so it really doesn't matter if I add one more vote to MA.

I told this to a friend and they were aghast, after talking with him more, he clearly didn't get the electoral college - even after the last election.
Brilliant.

So even if I did think my vote mattered at all, it still goes all over for me.

I don't like Bush. I am embarrassed for America every time I see him on TV since he doesn't speak well and his actions make America look like a bunch of warmongering retards.

But I don't really like Kerry either. Kerry moves that much closer to socialism with increased Nationalistic moves towards our boundaries with jobs and trade, increased taxes, and far too many government spending programs that we just don't need.
I might be inclined to see his side of things were I actually living in the country - or in fact ever planning on moving back... but I'm not.
So I get to pay his higher taxes, so that the people of America can have whatever services he is claiming they will have - but I get none of it.
Perfect.

So then I look at Bush and he will keep increasing the $80K limit before I have to pay US taxes while living overseas, so at least I have that. He is going to be better to the insurance and offshore industry, which is better for me where I currently live and the way I make my money.
But then I also have to see the way he is an idiot about science, his religious overtones freak me out on any number of points, and his stance on foreign diplomacy is clearly poor at best.

In the end - I am not registered to vote, and I won't be voting. Both because in the situation I am in, it doesn't matter - but also because even if I did have to make a decision, I am fucked either way.
As for the greater good of the country, again it is out of my hands, and I also don't particularly care since I no longer live there.

So this whole election, while interesting to watch - is largely something I observe with a detached ambivalence at best.

I feel kind of bad, but then... not all that bad since my political/religious views are more along the lines of Rand's objectivism then they are D/R or anything else.

Re:Register to vote?

[hibiki_r]

Same thing happens in Spain, but there only 60% or so vote. For the EU elections, less that 50% is the norm. I guess it has more to do with people actually thinking that a change of government would mean a change in their lives or not. In Spain most people don't really care either way, so unless something major happens, there won't be a big turnout. I've been living in the US for more than 6 years, and IMO the same thing happens: most people just don't care.

I guess that in Denmark the government is something more than a source of corruption/scandals :)

Re:Mandatory Voting

[tsg]

In Greece the voting is mandatory. The one who doesn't fulfill her social obligation to be responsible is fined. Greece is the oldest democracy.

Making voting mandatory simply increases the number of uninformed voters. Personally, I'd rather the people who can't be bothered stay home and leave the decision making to those who care.

Make people care and they will find their way to the polls all by themselves.

Re:Sad commentary

[tuxette]

I am free to travel and move around the country with no need to register my location with the government at any time.

Oh, I see you don't understand what it means to have a registered address. It is the address used to send your tax forms to and the address used as a basis for welfare benefits you may be entitled to. It has nothing to do with where and when you travel.

When you register to vote and register a car in the US, you have to provide an address. Even your taxes have to go somewhere. Or are you a tax evader?

The problem with not voting.

[Bombcar]

The main problem with not voting as a political statement is that there is absolutely nothing to distinguish between someone who doesn't vote because he hates the candidates and someone who doesn't vote because he hates moving.

You should vote, even if all you do is vote for some local school board official. Or write in Donald Duck. Anything to get a ballot in. If 15% of the presidential vote went to people outside the two parties, they'd sit up and take notice.

Otherwise they just write you off as apathetical.

Too many people vote already

[Pomme de Terre!]

I'm a big fan of people staying home on election day.

(I'll give you a moment to recover from shock and righteous indignation.)

Voting is a right, yes. And I believe that every informed citizen should do it. Along the same line, I believe that as a citizen it is your duty and obligation to *get informed.*

But if you're not going to understand the issues, stay away from the polls. We're at war, the Supreme Court is probably at stake (although admittedly we hear that every election), the economy is on an uncertain path, social security needs major reformation, millions lack healthcare, the world is packed with torture, famine, genocide, and slavery... and you're too busy to register until a low-rent web site of solopsistic kids in need of public vanity validation encourages you??

You're probably one of those people we don't need pulling a lever.

Contrary to contemporary platitudes, not everyone's opinion is important. If you're too lazy to understand why we're at war and formulate a rationale for supporting or opposing it, your vote is detrimental to society.

The same people who lament the "soundbite" nature of modern politics also cheer on these "be cool and vote!" drives, without realizing that we have a soundbite society BECAUSE of these drives!

Want substantive politicians? Get substantive voters.

Pomme de Terre!

Isn't this illegal?

[Anonymous Coward]

The City Pages here in Minneapolis was doing a promotion trying to encourage people to vote. They were giving away a free trip. The local paper ran a story about how this type of thing was illegal.....

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/4956543.htm l

From that article...
""I Will Vote" promotion may run afoul of federal law that prohibits paying or accepting payment for voting or registering to vote.

"The law has been interpreted liberally so that 'payment' is construed to mean anything of value (even a candy bar or a cigarette -- something much less valuable than a trip to Iceland)," Kiffmeyer wrote."

Re:Interesting discussion on the radio...

[barawn]

The argument "they are all crap" is horseshit. They all stand for different things, and you pick the one closest.

It's not a bad argument at all. It's sad that the system has degraded to picking the "lesser of two evils" at all. If you do think "they are all crap", then vote for yourself, by write-in.

That's better than not voting, and it's better than insulting the system by voting for someone you don't want. It's not about winning, or preventing someone from winning. It's about selecting the candidate that most people want.


You should vote in respect for the people throughout the world who die fighting for their right to vote. It's disrepesctful of those who've died for the right to vote to spoil your ballot.

Spoil your ballot? You mean by voting for someone you don't actually want to win? How is this different than the "pre-rigged" elections that the Soviet Union and Iraq had, except for the fact that there is a possible outcome of more than one person?

Representative democracy means you vote for someone who represents you. If you vote for someone who doesn't represent you, just because you don't want to vote for someone else, that destroys democracy, or worse: it makes it into a farce.

If you vote for Bush because you don't want to vote for Kerry, you're crazy. Look at the third party candidates, and vote for them. Or write yourself in. Same goes for Kerry.

I wish someone would poll people and find out how many people are voting for each respective candidate because they don't like the other one. That's what frightens me. We might as well not even have a democracy if those numbers are high, because you'll end up getting someone who people didn't actually want, just because TV/radio/newspapers/Internet/DNC/RNC selected two people.

Choices...

[Anonymous Coward]

Personally I believe it to be a mix of quite a few factors but I lean quite a bit towards not giving a fuck and it not mattering.

I'd chalk it up to the "here comes the new boss, same as the old boss" viewpoint instead. No matter who gets into office, very little actually changes because of it. The government still sucks, and it's going to suck no matter who the figurehead at the top happens to be. Maybe I'm jaded, but it seems to me that's who actually is President is really, really unimportant.

Re:Voter Registration and rights

[taustin]

Personally I think if you have not voted in the past 3-4 elections you should begin to lose your rights as a citizen of the United States.

Personally, I think anybody who wants to decide who gets to vote and who doesn't should be sodomized with a broom handle. I guess it's a good thing for you I don't get to make such decisions. And a good thing for everybody that you don't.

How is registering to vote a bad idea?

[mcmonkey]

I play a little game whenever stuff like this comes up. I call it 'spot the fascist.'

It's easy. Whatever else someone else says, whatever party they say they're with, whatever point of view they say they are supporting, you know you've found one when they come out against folks getting registered and voting.

In the USA, most places, you have to register before you can vote. If you don't register, you can't vote. Folks (when meeting the legal requirements of age, residency, etc.) should vote; therefor they should register to vote.

It doesn't matter why they register. It doesn't matter why they vote. It matters that they do register and vote.

I'm reminded of a discussion on NPR about prisoner voting. The 'against' side brought up some of the same arguments we hear is the student voting discussions. Dorms/prisons are temporary residence; students/prisoners don't have a stake in the community; have the option of absentee ballet, the usual.

I found myself starting seeing the logic on the side against, when the guy come out with (paraphrasing) 'large prison populations dominate small communities, and we don't like who prisoners might vote for.'

Did you spot the fascist?

In conclusion, I support rules governing the voting process and who gets to vote. I'm not coming out for anarchy. However, someone's motivation for registering or voting, or who they might vote (or not vote) for should have no bearing on their legal status as a voter and should not be used by others as encouragement to not vote.

Vote early, vote often.

BTW, where is it illegal for poll workers to ask for ID?

Re:How is registering to vote a bad idea?

[kaitou]

I am not sure I see it as being "fascist" when a town of 5000 has no itnerest to accept votes of the 2000 or so prisioners that are being held in a prision on the outskirts of it. Especialy if you keep in mind that the people in the prision have a vested interest in lowering the capability of the government/law enforcment capability of the area that they are interred in. They should certanly be allowed to do absentee votes for the area of their permanent residence, but I am not sure I see why they should have an influence on the area. With college students it would be quite different, because at the least they chose to live in the area, and they do interact with the area they live in on a more stable basis.

Re:How is registering to vote a bad idea?

[hendridm]

It doesn't matter why they register. It doesn't matter why they vote. It matters that they do register and vote ... Vote early, vote often.

I disagree. I think voting is important, but I think it's more important that you have an informed vote. I know so many people that are voting for a particular candidate because "he's not Bush". Well, that's fine, but when you start pressing them for opinions on some of the major issues, their answer is almost invariably, "Well, I don't know, but at least he's not Bush." I don't really care who you vote for. Kerry, Bush, someone else. Doesn't matter. But I think it's destructive to society to vote for someone based on how many billboards you see on the way to work. You don't have to vote for the candidate that I personally like - just do a little damn research before voting or please don't vote at all. That is all.

Re:Interesting discussion on the radio...

[rainman_bc]

No offence but Americans have no idea how good they have it. Go over to China and take a look.

If I was American, I'd be the first to admit that Members of Congress are nothing but cheap whores to industry. However at least I can say it with a bunch of other people, and all that'll happen is a group of Republicans will call me Anti-American - I won't get shot in Tianenman square for it.

Oh, and ask the people of Switzerland and Swedan if they are happy with their political systems. I'd bet they'd have some gripes too...

elitism

[commodoresloat]

I'd rather be 1 out of 100 registered voters than 1 out of 100 million registered voters.

Well, then, why bother with elections at all? Why not just appoint you and your 100 friends monarchs-for-life? The whole point of democracy is that everybody gets to vote, not just the people you think are the smartest or the best informed.