Larry Bartels

people's attitudes and values from how they cast their votes, because there are so many factors going into their voting behavior. But the most important one by far is simply whether they think of themselves as Democrats or Republicans. And the third one is called the folk theory of democracy.

people's attitudes and values from how they cast their votes, because there are so many factors going into their voting behavior. But the most important one by far is simply whether they think of themselves as Democrats or Republicans. And the third one is called the folk theory of democracy.

which is the idea that the way democracy should work is that ordinary people have preferences about what the government's policy should be, and they vote for candidates who stand for those preferences. And then the candidate who wins is held accountable for implementing the policies that voters elected him or her to pursue. The results of elections, I think, very seldom show

which is the idea that the way democracy should work is that ordinary people have preferences about what the government's policy should be, and they vote for candidates who stand for those preferences. And then the candidate who wins is held accountable for implementing the policies that voters elected him or her to pursue. The results of elections, I think, very seldom show

hinge on voters' policy preferences. Candidates do mostly try to accomplish the kinds of things that they promised, but they do so for reasons I think really don't have much to do with electoral accountability. And so thinking that we as voters can run the show is, I think, unrealistic.

hinge on voters' policy preferences. Candidates do mostly try to accomplish the kinds of things that they promised, but they do so for reasons I think really don't have much to do with electoral accountability. And so thinking that we as voters can run the show is, I think, unrealistic.

Thank you. Pleasure to talk with you.

Thank you. Pleasure to talk with you.