Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
To what extent does Homer Simpson represent your average American? Frequently shallow, ignorant, and indifferent, Homer makes us laugh. His antics in cartoon Springfield can be over the top, so we easily dismiss them as such.
But when cartoon Springfield looks more and more like our real life Springfields (and everywhere else), that is when Homer’s antics start to feel more and more familiar. And that's why this clip depicting Homer’s last-minute inner monologue while deciding between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney is a little unsettling.
Homer’s arguments for and against both Obama and Romney are one-liners. His substantive knowledge on either candidate’s policies is nil. And he’s utterly unconcerned (or unaware) that he does not know about those policy positions. He's also incredibly susceptible to Romney rumors. Shallow, ignorant, and indifferent. That's Homer. But is that also your average American?
Political campaigns are rhetoric-heavy, especially in the last few months. Coming largely in the form of ads and talking points, political information at this point is often more emotional than it is rational (or accurate). For many busy voters, cutting through that rhetoric can be too time-consuming. Some will never try. Instead, like Homer, they often become last-minute swing voters, and their votes matter.
Last year, in U.S. News piece entitled “Swing Voters Swing Because They're Uninformed,” Scott Galupo wrote:
One of my hobbyhorses is to track the movements of the Oscillating Low-Information Voter.
He is not a bad person. He may be hard-working and incredibly brilliant. He may be rich or poor or, more likely, somewhere in between. He may, in fact, be a she.
What Oscillating Low-Information Voters have in common is they pay very little attention to politics. Again, this does not imply stupidity—only ignorance. The Low-Information Voter is thus a different animal than the rational non-voter , who may keep up with the news but concludes his vote is statistically meaningless.
For whatever reason, the Low-Information Voter is simply uninformed.
His ideological preferences are transactional, and thus fluid: “What have the guys I just put in charge done for me lately?”
So what do you think? Is Homer your average American?
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Comments:
Sep '10
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
I'd say Homer represents a good chunk of everyday America, but if you want to get to the average American, I'd suggest a mix of Homer, Ned Flanders, and Marge.
Jul '12
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
Given how long the Simpsons have been on TV, there might be something to it.
Jul '11
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
Selfish and lazy is not how I think of America, just the worst of it. Sadly that will be the norm in the future should we stay the course.
Jun '12
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
Seems to me if Homer represents the swing voter, then they are in the minority. Unfortunately, in a close election, the chronically uninformed and uncaring wield a disproportionate influence. Kinda turns Homer into a brainless all-powerful electocrat.
Mar '11
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
He voted for Romney, and can go back to sleep again for four years, so at least he is our low information uninformed voter (this time....)
Nov '10
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
Homer's got a job. That's a shrinking demographic.
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
I for one, consider myself more Eric Cartman than Homer Simpson.
Aug '10
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
How does that passage in the bible go? I think it was "The stupid will always be among you" or something. There will always be doofuses and ignoramuses casting votes and, chillingly, one of their votes counts for exactly the same as yours. No one other than Aristotle has proposed a remotely satisfying alternative to that condition of representative government (and even his wasn't particularly good).
The recent Howard Stern audio was a nasty reminder. All we can do is vote to counter one of their votes and keep talking about this stuff to friends and family. We have to play the long game and nudge, nudge, nudge with conversation and debate. There's no easy solution to the rancid genetic stew created by the necessity of thousands of years of tribal life. Leaders needed the ballast of dimwitted followers to let their tribe survive. That's our inheritance.
As a side-note This is why The Simpsons has become unwatchable. It used to be witty and relatively balanced in the days of John Swartzwelder. Since the mid oughts, it's really gotten adolescently preachy. They're like The Daily Show without the wit.
Edited on September 27, 2012 at 5:39amOct '10
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
In the current state of affairs, Homer exceeds the norm.
May '10
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
Not the average voter, but certainly the common type who determine elections. Chronically, willfully uninformed — that typifies the swing voter.
Just today, I was arguing with one, hopelessly. They have an infuriating tendency to equivocate based on the shallow belief that the middle ground between two opposing sides (of a debate they don't understand or care about) must be most reasonable. Compromise! A swing voter is the ultimate squish.
The one I talked with today imagines himself a free thinker. A rebel without a clue.
May '10
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
Oscillating Low-Information Voter Electors??Mmmm, OLIVEs
Jun '12
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
Average American? No, but in a position of power that is threatening to anyone who believes elections matter, and this one is very important for the future freedom of the individual as opposed to group freedoms.
One could wish for some restriction on voting that excluded people who lack a basic understanding of history and economics, but noone has ever been able to define such a restriction that cannot be abused, so the best choice has been universal sufferage, and still likely the best.
Since we shouldn't block individuals from voting, the next best solution, and likely the only long term solution is a better educated populace, requiring that we solve our education systems problems, and include more basic economics, Macro and Micro in a high school education.
In my opinion this starts with an element of competition in schools, forcing them to compete on the basis of results, not monopoly status.
Aug '10
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
Aaron Miller: Not the average voter, but certainly the common type who determine elections. Chronically, willfully uninformed — that typifies the swing voter.
Just today, I was arguing with one, hopelessly. They have an infuriating tendency to equivocate based on the shallow belief that the middle ground between two opposing sides (of a debate they don't understand or care about) must be most reasonable. Compromise! A swing voter is the ultimate squish.
The one I talked with today imagines himself a free thinker. A rebel without a clue. · 6 hours ago
Sounds like you might've been arguing with my older sister.
Oct '10
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
Not all low information voters are swing voters - there are plenty of dyed in the wool, born and bred, D's and R's who vote the way they do because, well, everyone they know always votes D or R.
Surveys indicate, however, that Dems have an advantage in the number of uninformed voters who think their party affiliation is in their DNA.
Edited on September 27, 2012 at 2:46pmJun '12
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
He is more well-informed than Howard Stern's sampling of Obama's voters. I tend to agree with DocJay, if things don't change, there will be more Homers keeping the irresponsible Left in power long enough to decimate this country.
May '10
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
Perhaps I have been going about this all wrong. Instead of trying to convince ignorant swing voters to see reason, perhaps we should try to dissuade them from voting at all. The fewer apathetic or clueless voters who participate, the more the rest of our votes matter.
Of course, they are too proud for us to come right out and say they shouldn't vote because of their ignorance. Instead, we could just tell them, "You're right! There's no point in voting. It's all beyond our control." In my experience, swing voters often consider not voting.
Sep '12
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
Since I believe it is safe to say that those who create the Simpsons are largely of leftist ilk, I would say that this is how Democrats see the average voter.
Feb '11
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
Sounds like he'd support this guy.
Edited on September 27, 2012 at 5:17pmMay '12
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
This bit is also a follow up to an epidsode 4 years ago where he votes for Obama in the same manor. It's a very funny scene .. Go here .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aBaX9GPSaQ
Mar '11
Re: Are Most Americans Homer Simpson?
John Hanson: Average American? No, but in a position of power that is threatening to anyone who believes elections matter, and this one is very important for the future freedom of the individual as opposed to group freedoms.
One could wish for some restriction on voting that excluded people who lack a basic understanding of history and economics, but noone has ever been able to define such a restriction that cannot be abused, so the best choice has been universal sufferage, and still likely the best.
Since we shouldn't block individuals from voting, the next best solution, and likely the only long term solution is a better educated populace...
This is approaching matters from the wrong end. The uninformed, swing voter is decried for being put into a position they never desired in the first place, forced to make potentially critical policy making judgements. The only reason it matters is that so much wealth and power has flowed to the state, that was never the intention of the Founders nor is it consistent with our Constitution. These "Homer Simpsons" are not the problem, they are a symptom of the problem that our federal government has become.