We’re not as stupid as you think

I read this great article on Wired today about Web 2.0 and the upcoming elections. There were some YouTube/CNN debates earlier, which were touted as a great way for the community to contact the various Presidential candidates. However, I think that wasn’t good enough.

What I find most interesting about the article is the quote on the second page by some MIT prof: “I don’t even know how people would know the relevant questions to ask.” Basically he thinks that people are too stupid to ask the Presidential candidates the right questions. I personally am not that concerned because the people who would supposedly ask stupid questions are the exact same people who have to go out there and vote. If the high and mighty journalists are asking the candidates these high and mighty questions, how is the average citizen supposed to make sense of it and vote responsibly?

In theory, you could argue that the average citizen should get their shit together and study all these facts about Iraq, economy, etc, but that isn’t going to happen. Even I, as an intelligent individual, don’t know enough about politics and economy to “ask the right questions”, but I still have to go out there and vote.

I’m just glad that someone is out there bridging the gap between the average citizen and the Presidential candidates without having to go through some journalist or mediator. Connecting directly to the people in power (or people about to be in power) is a much better way of deciding who to vote for. Hurray for the internet!