WilliamJB
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2010
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- 314
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- Albany, NY
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- Liberal
So commentators on a certain cable news network have enjoyed pointing out Cass Sunstein's claim that we're all Homer Simpson (i.e. we're dumb), and that other leading members of the Obama administration don't think much of the overall intelligence of the nation. Well, no one likes to be called stupid, but let's have a look at some of the facts, shall we:
"About 1 in 4 Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.) But more than half of Americans can name at least two members of the fictional cartoon family, according to a survey."
"The study by the new McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, compared with just 1 in 1,000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms."
- Ignorant America: Just How Stupid Are We? | News & Politics | AlterNet
"Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court. Fewer than half of Americans could tell you her name during the length of her entire tenure. "
"In 2007, in the fifth year of the Iraq War, only 21% could name the secretary of defense, Robert Gates. Most Americans cannot name their own member of Congress or their senators."
- Tomgram: Rick Shenkman, American Stupidity | TomDispatch
"51% of Americans could not name the three branches of government."
- American Knowledge « The Professor
"only 13% of Americans tested could point Iraq out on a map of the world."
"58% of Americans know the Taleban and al-Qaeda were based in Afghanistan, compared with 84% of Britons, but only 17% of Americans can locate the country."
"34% of Americans know the tiny Marquesas Islands, where the last season of reality TV show "Survivor" was filmed, is located in the South Pacific. But only 30% could point to the location of New Jersey."
- BBC NEWS | Americas | Geography: The lost world
Now, I teach for a living, so this is probably my fault, but the next time Bill O'Reilly complains about how the "elites" think we're all a bunch of morons, take the time to ask, well, are we?
"About 1 in 4 Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.) But more than half of Americans can name at least two members of the fictional cartoon family, according to a survey."
"The study by the new McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, compared with just 1 in 1,000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms."
- Ignorant America: Just How Stupid Are We? | News & Politics | AlterNet
"Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court. Fewer than half of Americans could tell you her name during the length of her entire tenure. "
"In 2007, in the fifth year of the Iraq War, only 21% could name the secretary of defense, Robert Gates. Most Americans cannot name their own member of Congress or their senators."
- Tomgram: Rick Shenkman, American Stupidity | TomDispatch
"51% of Americans could not name the three branches of government."
- American Knowledge « The Professor
"only 13% of Americans tested could point Iraq out on a map of the world."
"58% of Americans know the Taleban and al-Qaeda were based in Afghanistan, compared with 84% of Britons, but only 17% of Americans can locate the country."
"34% of Americans know the tiny Marquesas Islands, where the last season of reality TV show "Survivor" was filmed, is located in the South Pacific. But only 30% could point to the location of New Jersey."
- BBC NEWS | Americas | Geography: The lost world
Now, I teach for a living, so this is probably my fault, but the next time Bill O'Reilly complains about how the "elites" think we're all a bunch of morons, take the time to ask, well, are we?