Being Smart Makes You Vote, Or Vice Versa

[michelemichele]

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Being Smart Makes You Vote, Or Vice Versa

So, yeah, there’s this election tomorrow, in case you hadn’t heard. And if you need any more incentive to head to the polls, here it is: A study out of Scotland’s University of Edinburgh found that people with higher IQs voted more often, regardless of their occupation. The data came from a U.K. study begun in 1970 that has tracked the recent voting habits of about 17,200 people born that year.

They found that for every 15 IQ points above a score of 100, a participant was “38 percent more likely than average to have voted in the United Kingdom’s 2001 election.” In addition, “[p]eople who took part in a political meeting or rally in the last year, those who took part in a public demonstration, those who signed a petition, and those who were fairly or very interested in politics had higher mean intelligence test scores at age 10.”

But did IQ make any difference in which way people voted? Any mention of this question in the past has usually been enough to incite a frothing frenzy. Here’s how ABC News summarized the latest findings:

“Childhood intelligence is associated with…support for political ideologies that are based on ecological sustainability and social liberalism,” conclude the Intelligence study authors. For example, voters were 32 percent more likely to vote for the UK’s more left-wing Liberal party over the Conservative party for every 15 IQ points they scored above average as children. They were more likely to be tree-huggers too, voting more often for environment-oriented parties.

So the smarter you are, the more you like trees—we report, you decide.

Being Smart Makes You Vote, Or Vice Versa | Reality Base | Discover Magazine

[Malkavian]

So the smarter you are, the more you like trees—we report, you decide.

That only works until you hit a few on your bike. Then you'll hate trees.

[Alinea]

That only works until you hit a few on your bike. Then you'll hate trees.

Ah, yes. Just look what some bikers found on a discarded shirt the other day:





Did you vote, btw?

[SOG]

Wouldn't you expect to see more green votes and members in Parliament or congress if that were the case?

We have 5 green members in the senate at present, at one point they controlled the balance of power, and 17 elected at State level, but then we have compulsory voting so what does that say, and what does it say about my IQ since I didn't have a choice

[Alinea]

Wouldn't you expect to see more green votes and members in Parliament or congress if that were the case?

We have 5 green members in the senate at present, at one point they controlled the balance of power, and 17 elected at State level, but then we have compulsory voting so what does that say, and what does it say about my IQ since I didn't have a choice

I'm sorry, do you have the US confused with CA? I really wish we had many more 'green' parties to choose from...hell...more than two parties will suffice!

Unfortunately, I think the 'green' party of the US has a 'crazy' reputation. Plus, Dem's usually pander to the crowd. I'll admit I voted Libertarian as often as possible in my state (not that it made any difference) but not the US elections.

[Malkavian]

Ah, yes. Just look what some bikers found on a discarded shirt the other day:





Did you vote, btw?

So true.

And yes.

[michelemichele]

I'm sorry, do you have the US confused with CA? I really wish we had many more 'green' parties to choose from...hell...more than two parties will suffice!

Unfortunately, I think the 'green' party of the US has a 'crazy' reputation. Plus, Dem's usually pander to the crowd. I'll admit I voted Libertarian as often as possible in my state (not that it made any difference) but not the US elections.

The Greens were a bit weird for a while here, too

Did you see my Rhino Party link?

Rhinoceros Party of Canada - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



< mourns their demise

[Alinea]

The Greens were a bit weird for a while here, too

Did you see my Rhino Party link?

Rhinoceros Party of Canada - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



< mourns their demise

I had glanced through it earlier but have now giggled all the way through it. In between trombone assaults on my ears from my brother, I'm managing a few words a minute here.

[PursuitOfHappinessParty]

The Greens were a bit weird for a while here, too

Did you see my Rhino Party link?

Rhinoceros Party of Canada - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



< mourns their demise

Just a fad.

I kid the MM.....
I love you anywayz!

[SOG]

I'm sorry, do you have the US confused with CA? I really wish we had many more 'green' parties to choose from...hell...more than two parties will suffice!

Unfortunately, I think the 'green' party of the US has a 'crazy' reputation. Plus, Dem's usually pander to the crowd. I'll admit I voted Libertarian as often as possible in my state (not that it made any difference) but not the US elections.

Good for you Alinea

I grew up in a timber town and my step father was a faller ie fell trees for his family who had a pulp logging business, but I still voted Green a couple of times, not that I ever told them I would have been run out of town, but I was going to be a rock star back then so what did I care, and my conscience vote would have made no difference there either.

I think we had one of the first Green parties in the world who came to prominence after stopping the Franklin Dam project in Tasmania a major feat I might add. I guess most countries look at Green parties as a bit of a joke (and some are) most likely it will take some kind of environmental disaster before that is going to change.