Twenty-second International Conference on Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations

Abstract

A more expansive definition of an organization is an institution within a society that seeks to accomplish a goal. In the United States our political institutions are based on the concept of deliberative democracy whereby public policy is the result of citizen input after healthy and meaningful public deliberation. For example, the U.S. model of election behavior, by means of which our leaders are chosen and receive authority to govern, is predicated on citizens voting, which is a form of public choice. This voting should be the result of a deliberative process by which a citizen, before voting, examines each candidate’s stand on the issues and reaches an informed decision as to which candidate would be best. Ideally, this would be a fact based, rational choice. At its core, deliberation is a rational process that mandates careful consideration and weighing of alternatives. The United States is beset with what are termed low-information voters. Low-information voters know little about government or the issues. They are less interested in using reason or ideas to understand politics. It is estimated that approximately 45% of voters in the United States are low-information voters. The problem is that low-information voters have neither the requisite information or skill to engage in productive deliberation. Low-information voting is based on fear and is susceptible to manipulation by authoritarian leaders. This paper examines the problem of low-information voters in the United States—the nature and extent of the problem, causes, and possible remedies.