ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:Conversecontendedthattheideologicaldisorganization,attitudinalinconsistency,andlimitedinformationofAmericanvotersmakethema politicallydisengagedmass,notaresponsibleelectorate.IillustratetheshortcomingsofConverse'slineofreasoningbyshowingthathemisreadhistwo mostprominentexamplesoftheelectoralconsequencesofhistheory:votingon theVietnamWarinthe1968NewHampshireprimary,andpublicopinion aboutthe1948Taft-HartleyAct.Inbothcases,voterswerebetterabletosort candidatesandpoliciesthanConversereported,despitetheirlackofideological sophisticationortheirknowledgeofspecificlegislation.Converse'sinterpretive errorsherestemfrommistakenassumptionsaboutinformationprocessingand recall,andfromquestionablenormativestandardsaboutwhatconstitutemeaningfulandcompetentpoliticalorientation.Hiscriteriaunderestimatethepublic'sabilitytomakeresponsiblechoices,andtheeffectofcampaignsonthe choosingprocess.
