election demographics

[Wojtek Sokolowski]

At 01:35 PM 11/8/00 -0500, Barkley wrote:
>     The last stories in the Washington Post on the
>Virginia senate race (won by Allen over Robb,
>52-48, an outcome that may give control of the
>Senate to the Repugs) was that suburban married
>women agreed with Robb on abortion and gun
>control, but thought Allen was more personable
>and in tune with "family values."
>     This would seem to sum up the paradox.

Barkley:

That sums up my opinion, expressed time and again on this forum, that
voting is not a rational utlity maximization behavior, but a ritualistic
response to uncertainty: going with what sounds familiar and in tune with
what's considered right and proper.  It is like going to church on a Sunday
- people may not agree with the theology but they go anyway because it is
the proper thing to do.  

wojtek