Comment This is an example of "Nudging" (Score 1) 344
In the last 3 months I have seen this exact technique described and reported in 6 different books on Psychology and persuasion.
The technique, sometimes called "voting report card" depends on the assumption that people can be "nudged" into "responsible" behavior by adjusting the ways in which they are given choices, either through policy or environment. Although the book, "Nudge" by Richard Thaler https://www.amazon.com/Nudge-I... advocates a more free choice approach to shaping peoples' behavior, it can easily be abused, especially if the targets are somewhat vulnerable. Thaler's work has influenced many authors who write books on self-discipline and personal achievement. An example of where it is being used to great effect is in the UK, in what is referred to as the "Nudge Unit" https://www.amazon.com/Think-S... . This unit has also done some successful consulting in the USA. The book, "Think Small" is a pretty good introduction and a very interesting read.
But what then? Let's suppose you are able to get an additional 10% of the voting population to vote: Is that good or bad? Are these people qualified to vote? (Eligible, yes. Qualified, who knows?) In over 40 years of asking I've only found 2 people (who were not lawyers) who knew the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States of America. The majority of the US population is woefully ignorant about US History and Economics https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007... . Most of them (WARNING! GENERALIZATION ALERT!) are unable to recognize and adjust their thinking to the 22 main rhetorical fallacies. Are we a more free country when we let idiots vote?