Real voters, however, seem apathetic about practical details, and prefer instead to focus on values and ideals. We’d rather debate hot-button identity issues, like gay marriage or immigration, than issues that hinge on an understanding of facts, like trade agreements or net neutrality. And we see a similar bias when electing our representatives. As long as our politicians talk a good game, we don’t seem to care whether they’re skilled at crafting bills and shepherding them through the system.18 Across the board, we seem to prefer high-minded rhetoric over humble pragmatism.