Final answer:
The idea of information shortcuts in 'The Rational Republic' relates to the proposition of rational behavior and investment in political information. Citizens may adopt shortcuts due to the perception that their vote has little influence, relying on limited or incomplete information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea of information shortcuts in relation to the propositions in 'The Rational Republic' can be related to the proposition of rational behavior and investment in political information. Anthony Downs, in his work 'An Economic Theory of Democracy', explains that rational citizens may choose to exclude any investment in political information due to the perception that their vote has little chance of influencing the outcome. This leads to the adoption of information shortcuts, where individuals make decisions based on limited or incomplete information. For example, citizens may rely on party affiliation or candidate popularity rather than thorough research to make their voting decisions, thus utilizing shortcuts to save time and effort.