In the “Ethics of Voting,” philosopher Jason Brennan argues that people shouldn’t vote if they’re not sufficiently educated about the issues and shouldn’t vote for self-interest. I actually would be more than happy with people voting for self-interest. When you see union members supporting candidates openly hostile to unions or senior citizens who need Social Security to survive voting for candidates who detest that safety net, there is definitely a dangerous disconnect. But, yes, democracy without an informed public is a bad thing. An excerpt from Brennan’s piece:

“Imagine a jury is about to decide a murder case. The jury’s decision will be imposed involuntarily (through violence or threats of violence) upon a potentially innocent person. The decision is high stakes. The jury has a clear obligation to try the case competently. They should not decide the case selfishly, capriciously, irrationally, or from ignorance. They should take proper care, weigh the evidence carefully, overcome their biases, and decide the case from a concern for justice.

What’s true of juries is also true of the electorate. An electorate’s decision is imposed involuntarily upon the innocent. The decision is high stakes. The electorate should also take proper care.” (Thanks Marginal Revolution.)

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“A vote for Popeye means free ice cream for all the kiddies,” 1956: