By:
bluegal on Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 at 1:15 PM - PDT
Image modified from Tony Rogers.
Bob Edwards Radio.com explores Rick Shenkman’s new book, “Just How Stupid Are We?: Facing the Truth About the American Voter“:
–Only 2 in 5 voters can name the three branches of the federal government.
–Only 1 in 7 can find Iraq on a map.
–Only 1 in 5 know that there are 100 federal senators.
And the most chilling…
–Nearly half (49%) of Americans think the President has the authority to suspend the Constitution.
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148 Responses for “Just How Ignorant Are American Voters?”
im glad you asked , obama says it all
Out of idle curiosity . . . is there really anyone with a brain that thinks we live in America anymore?
–Nearly half (49%) of Americans think the President has the authority to suspend the Constitution.
One last thing Bush can change before he leaves…
Why doesn’t this voting booth have blocks for the main two parties - Green and Libertarian.
–Nearly half (49%) of Americans think the President has the authority to suspend the Constitution.
Silly buffoons, ALL of us know he can, and did, and will continue to do so, because the Dems aren’t going to stop any of it.
We’re toast.
As I understand it, in my local school district, civics and government are no longer taught.
This ignorance is what has always been behind the drive to eviscerate the FCC. corrupting the FCC greased the skids to bringing America to the point where it has only one party, with a far right wing and a fascist wing.
It’s getting to the point where it is either going to be time to fight or flee.
There are still a number of people in this country who think Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11 and that Sen. Obama is a Muslim.
These are the people who believe everything their government tells them.
I’ve been waiting for years to hear that Democrats cause autism.
How many of the 49%ers are either Senators or Congress(people).
No Child Left Behind.
Ohh, you gotta be kidding…I think POLLs give ‘em more credit than they deserve. American Voters have the minds of 5 yr-olds.
Obviously education is not a priority in the United States. Ignorant people are easy to control and manipulate so you can be sure that education will never be a priority in the States.
“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”
Mark Twain
ThankGodImAnAtheist @ 11:
education is over rated , look at the educated clods who run this country, all university or college schooled ,
“Just How Ignorant Are American Voters?”
ummm, wat’s igorant?
” –Only 2 in 5 voters can name the three branches of the federal government.
–Only 1 in 7 can find Iraq on a map.
–Only 1 in 5 know that there are 100 federal senators.
And the most chilling…
This was a survey of Faux News participants I imagine!
Put a fork in us, we’re done.
swampfox @ 13:
don’t confuse education with nepotism
steamed clams have a higher IQ than
most americans. the citizens of this country
are too lazy to do anything about their future,
so, americans with a small letter “a” is appropriate.
–Nearly half (49%) of Americans think the President has the authority to suspend the Constitution.
Clearly so! If the last 8 years serve as evidence…
Samson- @ 17:
im not the proofs in the pudding !
barkleyg @ 15:
A survey of Faux News Viewers
Kay @ 5:
I am thinking thoughtcrimes, guilty your honor.
swampfox @ 1:
A good example of an uneducated McSame troll!
Paul’s Bunions @ 23:
Glad to see the illusion of American superiority shattered. In this new century we should not look to a “leader” but consider all nations as equals surviving in a fragile world.
swampfox @ 1:
swampfox,
firmly in the forty-nine percentile.
idiocracy.
swampfox @ 24:
ha ha boy you got me ,nailed my ass to the barn door, hit the nail on the head ,
Well we know that fortysome % of voters are f__king idiots…along with stolen and repressed votes and the SCOTUS, election interuptus.
joe cantwell @ 26:
how you spell that?
American voters and the public in general has had it’s head in the sand for years. The government has done some truly horrendous things in the name of American security and the public doesn’t blink an eye at it. The list of American atrocities around the world is a long and sordid one. Every single country from Mexico to the tip of South America has been invaded or had their affairs meddled with by the US. Iran, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia, The Phillipines, Japan, South Korea. The list goes on and on. Every country that the US government turns it’s eyes upon, the population suffers. All in the name of US national security. The empire is crumbling and we’re all going to be in peril.
1 in 3 think that Bush is doing a fine job.
Since World War II the United States bombed 72 countries and you wonder why it is the most hated country on the planet ?
Time for a general strike.
Quit work. Stop paying bills. Don’t vote.
A couple of months of this and the corporations and their fucks in D.C. will come hat in hand to Americans — as it should be.
That is very scary, but as long as the people in charge know the President can’t suspend the constitution… oh crap.
A reality check is needed here though. What were the numbers for the same questions 50 years ago, 100 years ago, etc. Has it gotten worse? This post doesn’t give us any frame of reference.
100 years ago most Americans lived in rural areas. Literacy and education rates were lower. Presidential candidates were chosen at state conventions closed to the public. Fewer people could vote. It’s likely that back then most people didn’t know anything about the Federal government or world geography. With that in mind, 20%-40% is starting to sound better.
I think that voting machine is rigged. Last time I checked it was the Republicans that were the squares, and the Democrats who were the triangles.
Paul @ 6:
^^^
This, right here. The education system is specifically and systematically removing the teaching of civics and government. In fact, most critical thinking skills are being tossed out the window in favor of teaching towards specific standardized tests. The arts, be it painting, drawing, or music, are likewise being systematically removed. Those arts programs are well-documented to increase critical thinking skills, and also make for a happier, better-adjusted student community. No Child Left Behind ensures that the schools that most need aid do not receive it, and the schools least in need of aid receive the most. You know, just like corporations and the wealthy in modern America: If you have more, you get progressively more. If you have less, you get progressively less. Trickle-down education! Why, I’d bet that’d work as well as trickle-down economics! Better, even!
The fact that organizations like FOX “News” are apparently legally allowed to LIE to their watchers has allowed for an absolutely tremendous amount of disinformation to be spread with little to no opposition, little to no fact checking, and little to no respect for the history of the fourth estate and their role in checking the power of all three branches of our government via thorough exposure of the factual goings-on in said branches of government. Instead, they are allowed to lie to their viewers day in and day out. They are allowed to lie while using ENTERTAINMENT to draw in more customers, and likewise turning the news itself into an entertainment endeavor, rather than a fact-finding endeavor.
Uneducated populace + disinformation spread through tightly controlled media outlets = our current situation. :(
we talk about that here all the time.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, McHoover is promising
a chicken in every pota bigger tax deduction for every dependent child (doubling from $3500 to $7000).swampfox @ 20:
i don’t think you got what i meant.
oh well…
OK - I will claim ignorance on this one - but I don’t know all the details… didn’t Bush sign something into law that effectively states the President has the right to declare martial law for anything he feels necessary? Is that what we’re talking about here?
….. durrrr…..
“–Nearly half (49%) of Americans think the President has the authority to suspend the Constitution.”
Well, why not,Oliver North did it in the 80s?
McCain gets mad at a soldier.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzr3pdXqZ98
http://digg.com/2008_us_electi.....er_GI_Bill
How ignorant are American voters? Ignorant enough to believe that there’s no difference between McBush and Obama….the same suckers who also suggested that Dubya and Gore would be the same in 2000.
Samson- @ 39:
well explain it then im all ears!
Jeez… they should take a look at the people in my office. I think those figures would be reversed. Then again, I work in a very “blue” office, so we’re not all retarded. There’s a few though…
Left&Left @ 43:
You don’t mean, do ya?
Nadir?
DC @ 42:
Very nice! :D
WakeUpAmerica @ 10:
Ironic. The ad embedded in this post is for Ask.com asking what toys are safe for toddlers?
Answer: These toys are off limits: books of any size and shape and length. Be especially careful with big heavy books.
These toys are safe: surveillance cameras, voting machines, and guns.
I find it intriguing that a good percentage you all think that we still HAVE a Constitution. With as many signing statements as that SOB has put into effect; what Constitution are you referring to???
In addition, 65% of those polled did not actually understand 80% or more of the questions, but answered them anyway because they didn’t want to appear stupid…
Seriously, even if we still taught civics in school, most kids would forget anyway with all the brainwashing on tv news…and blogs are bad, any blog, must only trust Sean Hannity…
Just another dose of evidence that the brainwashing campaign has been and is wildly successful. A nation of idiot, medicated consumers almost as bad as the sub-human blobs depicted in the movie “WALL-E.”
swampfox @ 44:
ok, all ears
:-)
you are saying that education is the problem, and you use bush (and others) to support your claim.
my point is that members of the ruling class are, oftentimes, put (”elected”) into positions of power b/c of who they are, not what they have accomplished. (nepotism: patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship, as in business and politics)
thus, being educated (reading, learning, going to school) is not the problem. it should be the solution. that is, if the rightwing can be kept away from school curriculum