The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies - Essay Example

According to rational irrationality, it is taken that human beings are rational beings very different from other beings. This comes as a result of them being able to reason concerning the matters which affect their lives. It is of essence to note that there are three interrelationships which greatly influence the behavior of most people. The social, political, and economic aspects are fundamental elements that greatly dictate the way people operate. Somebody can be considered rational if he or she is able and willing to depict the highest level of righteousness regardless of his or he interests.

Political people are expected to give their view through the ballot and economically people are expected to show their economic rationality through the way they consume the products. It is not logical to purport that people can tend to be rational in one respect. It is true that people can be rational in one aspect of which if that’s the case they will intend to follow what they believe in. for instance when people are rational consumers much more than they are in politics, then they will tend to shun politics for the economic prosperity. It should be noted that rationality is subject to changes and manipulations. You don’t expect people to be rational throughout their lives every day. In the democratic world, people are expected to give their views through the ballot, and because politics is a game of interests many politicians occasionally manipulate the way people vote in order to satisfy their interests thereby no rationality is seen in voters. If this happens there is always a breach of a democratic order which is pro-freedom and fairness. Economically, most salespeople are driven by the motives of wealth acquisition in expenses of fairness and righteousness. In this situation, the urge to seek the truth is barred from materializing due to the self-interest inclined in one’s belief in riches for comfort.

In the quest of finding truth and rationality in the social life of human beings there always arise conflicts. These conflicts emanate from the religious orientations which religious leaders or specific religious doctrines inflict on their believers. In the economic model, the material cost of error there is depictions of how wrong beliefs and assumptions can lead to fatal economic dangers. The dangers are in most cases bringing financial problems for instance you find that if one is so obsessed with his social beliefs it becomes influential in his economic decisions. Take an example with a staunch Christian who is employed at a given organization. You find that if he or she gets information of the world’s demise the following day he or she can take the initiative of resigning and using all the money in his bank if he realizes that the world’s end was exaggerated they remain broke and unemployed.