Heightism and Presidential Electionsgreenspun.com : LUSENET : TB2K spinoff uncensored : One Thread |
About 25 years ago, I read a fascinating book that identified many odd correlations. I can't remember the name of the book. One of the more striking correlations was the influence of height on presidential elections. As I recall, the correlation was that in presidential elections, if there was more than a 4" height difference, the tallest candidate ALWAYS won (all the candidates being white men). I'm sure this result does not surprise those who are shorter than average. There is an bias (often unconscious) in favor of height in so many places.I think Gore is taller than Bush but not by four inches, so this may not be a factor in the 2000 election. But it seems that the parties don't know about this trend or the Dems would never have nominated Dukakis in 1988 and they should have nominated Bradley in 2000. In 1948, both parties nominated little guys (Truman and Dewey) so it was not an issue then either.
I have searched the Net for this correlation but cannot find it. It's probably in there but I don't know how to phrase the search.
-- Lars (lars@indy.net), October 30, 2000
It's not just presidents who tend to be tall, Lars. I have heard this complaint about everything from County Commissioners to lawyers to bb players (duh)I'm six foot six, and I'll tell you that it's not as wonderful as short people may think. I don't fit into most beds, cars, trucks, airplanes, etc. I like to travel, but I suffer. It also seems the airlines always give the seats with extra legroom to short people, too, for some reason.
JOJ
-- jumpoffjoe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), October 30, 2000.
Artist: Randy NewmanAlbum: Little CriminalsT
Title: Short People
Short People got no reason, Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason To live
They got little hands, And little eyes
And they walk around Tellin' great big lies
They got little noses, And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes On their nasty little feet
Well I don't want no Short People, Don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People Round here
Short People are just the same As you and I
A Fool Such As I)
All men are brothers Until the day they die
(It's A Wonderful World)
Short People got nobody, Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody To love
They got little baby legs And they stand so low
You got to pick 'em up Just to say hello
They got little cars That got beep, beep, beep
They got little voices Goin' peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers And dirty little minds
They're gonna get you every time
Well, I don't want no Short People, Don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People 'Round here
http://www.lyrichound.com/lyrics/r/randy%20newman%20-%20short% 20people.txt
-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), October 30, 2000.
I don't see why tall people think that being short is all that much fun. There are lots of things that we have trouble with. For instance We can't find pants that fit because they are too long, It is just as hard for us to find cars where the seat will move up far enough so that we can reach the pedal and the steering wheel to come down far enough to see over. Lets not even go into detail about ceiling fans and light switches. We also have trouble with Book and store shelves. Amusement park rides, restaurant booths, phone booths, closets,windows, micrphones and podiums, track/running, emloyer discrimination and the fact that tall people hardly ever look down to look for people, so you might as well forget about being noticed by them. So as you can see short people have a hard time making it in this society that we live in.
-- Courtney Sue (angelcourts@hotmail.com), November 26, 2002.