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It is in the prosecution of some single object, and in striving to reach its accomplishment by the combined application of his moral and physical energies, that the true happiness of man, in his full vigour and development, consists. Possession, it is true, crowns exertion with repose; but it is only in the illusions of fancy that it has power to charm our eyes. If we consider the position of man in the universe,—if we remember the constant tendency of his energies towards some definite activity, and recognize the influence of surrounding nature, which is ever provoking him to exertion, we shall be ready to acknowledge that repose and possession do not indeed exist but in imagination. - Wilhelm von Humboldt, The Sphere and Duties of Government (The Limits of State Action) (1854 ed.)

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Wait ... maybe the "average" voter is an "average" American?

Hold on! Maybe it is true that not everyone votes, but how do you know that those that do vote are not "average"?

Well, to answer that we simply review the breakdown of voters.

First, in this post, by race. If "average" Americans are voting then it should be the case that voting percentages among the racial categories are similar to the overall voting rate (recall: 58%) and to each other.

Except they are not:





So, of the 58% of the population that voted:
  • 66% of the white population voted;
  • 56% of the black population voted;
  • 30% of the asian population voted;
  • 28% of the hispanic population voted.
Therefore, the "average" voter is more white than the "average" American.

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