Comment Re:hmm... (Score 1) 114
As MUCH as I agree with you, this simply isn't the case for the majority of the voting populous. Even very smart and educated people care more about whether you have a "D" or a "R" attached to your name than they care to admit. Our voting system is better than most other nations, but has major faults that it relies on the lowest common denominator and the system REWARDS candidates that can pander the best.
I have personally often thought about running a purely honest campaign where everything would be cited. The cold hard truth is the average voter doesn't care. They either like their party or they hate the opposing party. Independent voters often vote with their gut. A small percentage exists where voters like you and me actually check credentials of candidates. But for that few votes, candidates would rather pander to the masses.
My biggest problem is campaign promises. The vast majority of campaign promises made by presidential candidates cannot be fulfilled simply because they are president. For many of the reforms both Obama and Romney are proposing, they are better off running for congress. But the average American doesn't know this. The only thing the president has direct control over is foreign policy. (Yes, yes, they have a bully pulpit; but they cannot directly introduce bills, as Obama has shown with his online petition initiative.)
In short, the problem isn't our candidates; it's our populous. And since our candidates love a dumb populous, this won't be changing anytime soon.