# Wow, I didn't realize how little some voters know about government! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 21, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015 "2024-08-21T20:58:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/1 "2024-08-21T20:58:16Z")
So I was discussing the citizenship test green card holders have to pass before becoming American citizens with my (admittedly young) Doctor and I asked him how many members of congress there were. He said 8. Stunned, I corrected him, and, dialing the difficulty way down, asked “Ok, how many branches of government are there?” He said 12. I really assumed that he would at least know the amount of congressmen would be in the hundreds. How can anyone think there are 8 congresspeople and 12 branches of government? You should have seen my face when he told me those numbers. I’ve lived in this country for decades. How can it still shock me like this? Am I the one who’s in denial? Sure sounds that way… ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/2 "2024-08-21T21:21:12Z")
The number of Representatives varies in each state, from 1 to 52 (IIRC), so 8 might be the number of Representatives in your state. What state are you in? There are 15 cabinets, which might be where he got the number 12 from. 12 is a lot closer to 15 than to 3. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/3 "2024-08-21T21:21:48Z")
That’s pretty shocking, that an obviously educated person could be so ignorant. But remember, the people of Alabama elected that Tuberville yokel to be their Senator and when asked to name the three branches of government, he couldn’t. I think anyone running for elective office should be required to pass a Civics test before they’re allowed on the ballot. I’d be surprised if the likes of MT Green and Lauren Boobert could pass one. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/4 "2024-08-21T21:23:42Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > I think anyone running for elective office should be required to pass a Civics test before they’re allowed on the ballot. I would oppose that, but I wouldn’t mind if they had to take the test and their scores got publicized. "I got a 12%! That’s yuge, nobody in history has ever gotten a score that high! Big strong men approach me with tears in their eyes and ask me “President Trump, how do you know so much about government? Nobody knows that much!” ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/5 "2024-08-21T21:27:07Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > But remember, the people of Alabama elected that Tuberville yokel to be their Senator and when asked to name the three branches of government, he couldn’t. That’s so easy: offense, defense, and special teams. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/6 "2024-08-21T21:37:56Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > The number of Representatives varies in each state, from 1 to 52 (IIRC), so 8 might be the number of Representatives in your state. What state are you in? > > There are 15 cabinets, which might be where he got the number 12 from. 12 is a lot closer to 15 than to 3. Florida, and no. He really didn’t know… ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/7 "2024-08-21T21:46:05Z")
Honestly I just memorized the fact that we have 67 counties this summer. Heck if I know the number of representatives in the state House of Representatives. But I do know the difference between the state legislature and Congress. I think most people know there are three branches of government, legislative, judicial, executive. Maybe they won’t articulate it that way but if you mention Congress, the Supreme Court, and the President, they will know all of those exist and do separate things. That much is really drilled into school children. I also think most people know there are 50 states in the U.S. and that states have governors. They will know their own state, the current President (putting aside the issue of election denial), and probably their own governor. Beyond that… ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/8 "2024-08-21T21:46:52Z")
Advice: never be surprised at the ignorance of people about anything both important and easy to find out. I imagine that a majority of dopers have experienced overestimating what “common knowledge” is really comprised of. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/9 "2024-08-21T21:49:25Z")
I was studying Spanish in Nicaragua. The teachers there were famously interested and engaged in Nicaraguan politics, and were always asking my perspective on US politics. I would unfailingly always reply, in Spanish, “The sky is blue. The leaves are green.” Which was my way of saying that I really wasn’t interested in talking politics. Any chance your doctor was just deflecting? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/10 "2024-08-21T21:56:43Z")
At what point do you stop excusing them by saying they were just answering the wrong question, and just say “They was wrong.”? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/11 "2024-08-21T22:01:32Z")
I remember when I was 17 or 18, fresh out of high school Govt class, and I was asking my grandmother what the point of voting in the midterm (my first) was since neither the President nor either of my Senators nor my Representative was up for re-election. She pulled out a copy of the Constitution on the spot and schooled me right then and there. (I also didn’t realize there were elections downballot.) ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/12 "2024-08-21T22:12:57Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Advice: never be surprised at the ignorance of people about anything both important and easy to find out. It’s taking longer than we thought. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/13 "2024-08-21T23:17:21Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > (I also didn’t realize there were elections downballot.) In most if not all modern state elections there are propositions and ballot measures which are voted by public referendum. Some of these measures are actually more important that the election of public figures as they can fundamentally alter state law or commit the state to irreversible financial commitments long past the next election, and are often pushed during low turnout midterms and special elections by nefarious parties trying to slip an unpopular measure past the public by obscuring the intent with a misleading title and advertising campaign only widely seen by advocates. The League of Women Voters state chapters publish “ballot explainers”, guides that give background on candidate positions (on all manner of topics, not just “womens’ issues”) and propositions and measures on the ballot. LWV doesn’t endorse particular candidates as a matter of policy but they do openly advocate for certain issues and provide recommendations where the measure clearly aligns or opposes their stated positions, or otherwise indicate a neutral recommendation. Even if you don’t agree with their particular values (which they are quite open about) the explainers are a great resource to get a useful summary of what are often little covered and confusing ballot measures. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/14 "2024-08-21T23:28:10Z")
Wait, maybe I’m showing my own ignorance, but how was your rep not up for reelection? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/15 "2024-08-21T23:31:57Z")
I know a person who tried to convince me Canada was a state and they didn’t know why since they _all_ spoke French. This was at the time of Katrina and they thought everyone in New Orleans was Cajun and the Cajun government should help them. I didn’t even try. I felt like they obviously needed that stupidity or their head would explode or something. I recently met a person who was talking about the right to healthcare. A medical person. They said “After all it’s an 2nd amendment right” WTF? I said “Yeah right up there with the right to bear arms, Seems legit.” People will just make shit up sometimes because they don’t really know. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/16 "2024-08-21T23:52:57Z")
Is the doctor a recent immigrant? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/17 "2024-08-22T00:01:47Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I recently met a person who was talking about the right to healthcare. A medical person. > They said “After all it’s an 2nd amendment right” WTF? > I said “Yeah right up there with the right to bear arms, Seems legit.” Well you have to bare your arm to get a vaccine or IV, so in a way, they’re correct. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/18 "2024-08-22T00:07:36Z")
No, he’s Florida born and raised. Just has zero interest in politics. I assume he finds the topic supremely boring. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/19 "2024-08-22T00:07:55Z")
I wouldn’t doubt that’s the spelling they thought. Bear/Bare. This person is a totally American. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/20 "2024-08-22T01:12:14Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Honestly I just memorized the fact that we have 67 counties this summer. Are you in PA? It was only 70 years ago that I learned that PA had 67 counties and I have never forgotten it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015.md?page=2)