I'd agree with Kylinrouge on the ignorance part. Most (and I will gladly stand by that statement) people are completely ignorant of the broader picture, and inconsequential things like "facts." Thus, the people that a person votes for is more often a result of:
Party Affiliation Media Endorsements Advertising! Single Issue Voting etc
I think it's obvious that the people in TP (and other political comms) tend to be the outliers, we actively research political issues rather than regurgitate sound bites.
The reason that voting changes in scope each year (in general) is not that people are less ignorant, but that the people voting are coming out in larger numbers for (XYZ) candidate. The silent masses can often disagree with the vote results, but couldn't be bothered to show up at the polls.
(The aforementioned was directed at ALL parties, not simply one or the other. IMO the reason that 2008 was such a slaughterhouse for example wasn't that the tide of American opinion had necessarily changed drastically - the 2010 elections proved that - but that the Republican base was so beaten down that they stayed home.)
no subject
Party Affiliation
Media Endorsements
Advertising!
Single Issue Voting
etc
I think it's obvious that the people in TP (and other political comms) tend to be the outliers, we actively research political issues rather than regurgitate sound bites.
The reason that voting changes in scope each year (in general) is not that people are less ignorant, but that the people voting are coming out in larger numbers for (XYZ) candidate. The silent masses can often disagree with the vote results, but couldn't be bothered to show up at the polls.
(The aforementioned was directed at ALL parties, not simply one or the other. IMO the reason that 2008 was such a slaughterhouse for example wasn't that the tide of American opinion had necessarily changed drastically - the 2010 elections proved that - but that the Republican base was so beaten down that they stayed home.)