Introduction: If at First You Don’t Succeed…

Abstract

Theories about democracy including that in the United States stipulate the necessity for an informed electorate. Additionally it is also assumed that policy makers are well versed about the subjects they address. Unfortunately studies suggest that many American citizens and public officials are woefully ignorant about many facts critical to making informed decisions. The result is that often times many policies and ideas get enacted either when there is little evidence supporting their likelihood of success, or worse, when social science research indicates probable failure. Instead of policy being fact-based, it is often developed in light of political myths that doom the political process to repeated enactment of failed public policies.