Backgrounds Quote by Jason Brennan
“My main worry about referendums is that you are taking a very complicated political question that requires knowledge of a bunch of background facts in the social sciences and you're handing that question to people who don't know those facts and in fact, are systematically misinformed about them.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Talk on Direct Democracy, 2017
Complex political issues require expertise, yet referendums give decisions to uninformed voters, risking poor outcomes.
In simple terms: Complex issues need experts, not uninformed votes.
Key Takeaway
Ensure informed participation.
Themes
democracy
politics
knowledge
misinformation
Mood
concerned
critical
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- voting
- policy making
- civic education
Key Concepts
epistemic responsibility
public deliberation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we improve voter knowledge?
- Should certain decisions be excluded from referendums?
A Different Perspective
Voters may lack time to research thoroughly.
