I doubt they will exercise that choice. That would require mulling over facts and other intellectual effort. Like trout will rise to a sparkling metal lure which ultimately proves to be devoid of useful nutrients, they will almost certainly take the no-brainer, no-strainer route and mindlessly follow the promise of free stuff. Free for them, that is. Paid for out of your pocket and mine. Just get them going with a few faithful chestnuts like "the white man, he keep you down" (to which they will respond "Yeah, yeah"), and intellectual function shuts down to make way for mob mentality. Look at their history.
Stop me at any time if you disagree.
Do you remember the first time you heard a Democrat Politician say “Vote for your own Self Interest”?
I always thought people Voted for America’s Self Interests. After LBJ’s Great Society came along, that quickly changed.
The Tyranny of the Majority is upon us and the Representative Republic form of Government that worked within the confines and limitations of our Constitution is all but a distant memory..
Apparently people like us just aren’t accepting of the Liberal premise that the Constitution just a Historical Document that magically changes with the times, AKA a Living Document.
Therefore, we Bitter Clinger types are the problem, not an out of control Federal Government.
BTW- You are 100% correct in your dissertation.