Following within second of the breaking news that hair-challenged Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee for Vice-President, the pollsters got into gear.  As I watched Fox news pundits discuss the polls yesterday, most of which was fairly humorous as it was spun in a way that assured negativity, Chris Wallace said one thing that wasn’t funny at all.

According to a poll discussed by Wallace, 51% of Americans polled had never heard of Joe Biden. 

Sure, most people have no clue who their senators are, or could name their congressman.  They can’t tell you the capital of Delaware or name a single Supreme Court Justice.  Tales of American political and governmental ignorance are legion. This doesn’t mean that they don’t have an opinion about everything, usually relying on their belief that their “common sense” trumps the need for knowledge.

But as we come into the thick of the presidential campaign, with both parties putting on the big show to grab the patriotic hearts of Americans with swirls of color, sounds of fury and lots of balloons, those of us who pay a modicum of attention need to remember something:  they’re playing to idiots.

As recently discussed, the “undecided” vote doesn’t reflect those who are ideologically open-minded, but those who are politically ambivalent because they just don’t get it or care enough to be bothered.  They just aren’t that interested.  Let’s call this group the “lowest common denominator” (LDC)of American politics. 

For those of us who are interested in our government, say enough to not only know who Joe Biden is (after almost 36 years in the United States Senate) but perhaps have some feelings about him, we already possess a fairly well-developed ideological perspective.  We may not care much for either party, but it’s not for lack of knowing. 

But the LDC rules.  This is a product of both our electoral system as well as sheer numbers.  There are far more people who are disinterested than not, and while those who pay attention may vote, contribute and work for the candidate of their choice, the LDC elects the winner. 

It’s not that the LDC doesn’t care about the economy, or the war in Iraq, or abortion.  Indeed, they often care deeply about individual issues.  But they lack the ability to comprehend complexity, and see issues as black or white.  This is the mindset that allows them to simultaneously hold positions that result in a direct conflict, such as the economy and the war in Iraq, without any appreciation of the impact of paying for a war that they insist must be “won” while complaining bitterly about the cost of gas at the pump.  No one is going to make them confront their dissonance, and there’s nothing cognitive about it.

The concept of democracy is a wonderful thing, or so we’re told.  The majority rules and those who disagree must give way to their will.  The candidates get this, as much as it makes me ill to listen to them spout foolishness to pander to the LDC.  Lack of a plan to address a pressing issue doesn’t seem to get in the way of chest-thumping, heart-warming rhetoric.  And the more disenchanted one gets with a candidate’s vapid pronouncements, the more out-of-touch we become with American politics.

When Chris Wallace related the 51% figure, he commented that this should bring humility to media pundits who have had Joe Biden as a regular guest on their Sunday morning shows.  While some of us pay attention to positions and critique strategy, the LDC will be sitting back in their lazy boy recliner watching cartoons and waiting for someone to appeal to their “common sense.”  And the rest of us will live with their decision, no matter what we think.

Democracy is a great concept, with one flaw.  It requires a knowledgeable electorate.  And no one can force knowledge upon the American people.  It’s their right.