Some might believe that although the general population might not know the facts required to fairly evaluate the guilt or innocence of an alleged bicycle thief, most are adequately informed about political issues and candidates. A large majority of the US population believed Iraq was directly involved in the September 11th Airplane attacks, when they reelected George W. Bush.

A Washington Post poll (published 9/4/2003, cited by USA Today 9/6/2003) said:

“… seven in 10 Americans continue to believe that Iraq's Saddam Hussein had a role in the attacks, even though the Bush administration and congressional investigators say they have no evidence of this. Sixty-nine percent of Americans said they thought it at least likely that Hussein was involved in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, according to the latest Washington Post poll. That impression, which exists despite the fact that the hijackers were mostly Saudi nationals acting for al Qaeda, is broadly shared by Democrats, Republicans and independents”

Similarly:

“… polls conducted during the summer (of 2000), in 35 major countries around the world found that majorities or pluralities in 30 of them favored Kerry for president over Bush by an average of margin of greater than two to one. Yet 57 percent of Bush supporters said they believed a majority of people outside the U.S. favored Bush’s re-election, and 33 percent said foreign opinion was evenly divided.” (Jim Lobe, October 22, 2004 by OneWorld.net )

Regardless of the voter’s choice in those elections, not just some, but most voters were uninformed, or much worse, misinformed regarding very important objective facts.  Is this the RIGHT way to make important decisions?