By John Hood
RALEIGH — Every citizen who meets the basic requirements — adulthood, residency, and the completion of sentence after a felony conviction — can cast a ballot in North Carolina. There’s no test of civic knowledge required to exercise the civil right to vote, nor should there be. (Our state constitution still contains a Jim Crow-era literacy test to vote, but it’s vestigial and unenforceable.)
That having been said, effective self-government is difficult to sustain when voters lack basic information about candidates, issues, and our constitutional system. Surveys show such ignorance is especially prevalent among young people. In a recent poll of Americans aged 18 to 24, only a quarter knew the vice president breaks ties in the U.S. Senate. Most thought the Electoral College had responsibilities other than electing presidents, such as regulating campaign finance or certifying congressional elections.
Here in North Carolina, the latest High Point University poll tested the political knowledge of state residents. Some of the results, while troubling, fell short of catastrophic. Most respondents to the survey, conducted in late January, knew that Republicans currently control the U.S. House of Representatives, though 13% said the Democrats did and 22% were unsure. Two-thirds identified the GOP as the more conservative party and 55% knew that the U.S. Supreme Court was the federal branch empowered to declare a law unconstitutional.
But North Carolinians flubbed this question: “As far as you know, does the federal government spend more on Social Security or foreign aid?”
Just 21% knew the correct answer. Social Security accounts for one-fifth of total federal spending. Foreign aid is about 1%. Alas, most North Carolinians thought either that foreign aid was the bigger expenditure (41%) or that the U.S. spent about the same on foreign aid and Social Security (10%). The rest admitted they didn’t know.
I concede that civic knowledge isn’t a game of Jeopardy. Voters need not know which president prosecuted the Mexican-American War (North Carolina’s own James K. Polk) or was the first to be impeached (another native Tar Heel, Andrew Johnson) in order to exercise their franchise responsibly. Still, as America continues to stumble toward a fiscal crisis of unprecedented magnitude, far too few of us have a firm grasp on its primary causes and probable consequences.
If present trends continue, publicly held federal debt (excluding debts owed by one part of the government to another) will hit a record 106% of gross domestic product in 2027 and shoot up to 122% of GDP by 2034. Washington is now spending more on interest payments to bondholders than on national defense.
The U.S. House has just approved budget targets that, if fully implemented in subsequent legislation, would extend the tax cuts enacted during President Trump’s first term (generally good) and reduce future spending growth by trillions of dollars (also good). Unfortunately, under all reasonable scenarios, it also guarantees multi-trillion-dollar deficits as far as the eye can see.
Why aren’t voters more upset about all this? The reason isn’t a lack of concern. The vast majority say they worry “a great deal” or a “fair amount” about federal spending and deficits. The problem is that they misunderstand the causes and underestimate the necessary remedies.
Far too many left-leaning people think it’s largely a revenue matter and can be addressed by hiking taxes on millionaires and billionaires. As I’ve pointed out many times, doing so might realistically nudge federal revenues up modestly as a share of GDP, by a percentage point or so. But our deficits are running closer to 7% of GDP.
Far too many right-leaning people believe combating fraud and axing a few programs like foreign aid will do the job. Nah. The sum of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, national defense, and debt service represents 76% of all federal spending. Eliminate every other federal expenditure and that still wouldn’t balance the budget (Washington currently finances nearly 30% of its budget by borrowing).
Voters deserve to know the truth. They deserve politicians willing to speak it.
John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His books Mountain Folk, Forest Folk, and Water Folk combine epic fantasy with American history (FolkloreCycle.com).
“The U.S. House has just approved budget targets that Unfortunately, under all reasonable scenarios, it also guarantees multi-trillion-dollar deficits as far as the eye can see.”
I’m totally surprised Mr Hood that you stated this in your opinion. But I’m not surprised Mr Hood that you left out the that as part of the U.S. House budget where they want to raise the U.S. debt limit by $4 trillion. If the house states that they are going to save $4 trillion by budget cuts, then why do they need to raise the dept limit by $4 trillion? Does the GOP need this extra dept monies to pay back the American 0ligarchs?
Could it be that the reason that young “voters lack basic information about candidates, issues, and our constitutional system” is that our elected IDIOT’S only care about getting re-elected. They only say what they want you to hear so NO one knows what to believe. It would be better if they realized who the really worked for and were required to tell the TRUTH the whole TRUTH and nothing but the TRUTH!!!!!
Why do our GOP controlled State Legislators still allow this outdated discriminatory requirement “(Our state constitution still contains a Jim Crow-era literacy test to vote, but it’s vestigial and unenforceable.)” still be part of our state constitution? Are they planning on using it sometime in the future?
#VoteOutIncumbents
#TermLimits
The assertion that voter ignorance is the primary driver of fiscal irresponsibility oversimplifies the issue. Both major political parties have, at times, prioritized policies favoring affluent interests—such as tax cuts for the wealthy, increased defense spending, and corporate subsidies—over long-term fiscal health. This trend reflects systemic issues within the political landscape rather than merely a lack of voter knowledge.
Recent educational policies have further complicated this dynamic. Initiatives aimed at restricting the teaching of comprehensive U.S. history and critical perspectives on race and sexuality have emerged in several states. For example, in 16 Republican-dominated states, policies have been enacted to limit such teachings, potentially narrowing students’ understanding of complex societal issues. Additionally, the introduction of the ‘EndDEI’ portal by the Department of Education allows individuals to report perceived discriminatory practices, reflecting a broader effort to reshape educational content.
These educational strategies may influence civic understanding and engagement. However, attributing fiscal irresponsibility solely to voter ignorance overlooks the role of political accountability. Voters have consistently expressed concerns about government spending and deficits, yet policymakers often cater to influential donors and special interests that benefit from maintaining the status quo. Addressing fiscal challenges requires elected officials to propose balanced solutions involving both prudent spending reforms and equitable taxation, rather than shifting the blame onto the electorate.
Inhancing civic knowledge is vital for a robust democracy, it is crucial to recognize that fiscal irresponsibility stems more from systemic political decisions than from voter ignorance alone. Fostering an informed electorate is essential, but so is ensuring that elected officials are held accountable for policies that prioritize public interest over narrow, entrenched interests.
Think About It is speaking the truth. Also, I can’t wait for John Hood to start talking about the Trump administration and its policies. NC Republicans have been building the infrastructure for a “leader” like Trump for years.