Very few people have anything remotely approaching a comprehensive understanding of world history. (Hell, my personal Roman history project took me a few years and tens of thousands of pages; the rest of the world will take a few more decades at the least). In a Democratic system, it is virtually impossible for serious change to be effected thereby if the vast majority of people barely know a thing.
How much of the voting populace knows all of American history? How many people have never read any history or biography since being forced to in school? How many self-report not even reading a book a year?
The meme is very accurate. If you happen to worked yourself into a position of some kind of influence AND know quite a bit about history, psychology, sociology, and the like, then perhaps you can have some influence. But nothing is changing unless a whole lot of people spend a whole lot less time watching stupid ****ing **** on TV and a whole lot more time reading, in all sorts of disciplines. Instead, the overall American sentiment seems to be that things like expertise and education are for losers (and/or scientists who are clearly conspiring because they claim to know things).
What is the probability that a vile rube will learn how to speak to the rabble, gain success, and do the most for themselves that they can?
What is the probability that a highly educated individual will learn how to speak to the rabble, gain success, and still drive to do the most good for the most people?
How probable is it that a student of history and all things can simultaneously devote themselves to the pursuit of power that would at least give them a chance of effecting any kind of change?
The only hope is through greater and stricter required public education, and all things that support it. Yet education is under attack by one of the two major parties in this country, a country which an arch-buffoon seeks to make "great again" by saying nasty things about anyone who fails to kowtow.
Spent 17 years in the public school system, I think I probably know a bit more about it than you might.
Its a piss poor failed system getting worse. What there needs to be is choice in where you place your child to be educated. Public schools, even the good ones, are mainly just indoctrination/socialization centers where more and more they have an agenda than an educational plan, are stiffing diversity of thought and style. Less and less creativity by the teachers and I can tell you that by the time our kids get to high school it is the few that remain truly interested in learning much of anything anymore.
I taught American History, also I taught Economics, American Government, World History, AP European, Civics, Debate, Street Law, Global Studies and English. Teachers, good teachers can affect many students and so good education can be a big help... but we are not getting that from most public schools. Its anecdotal but I found most home school students that waited and attended at high school level were generally above the average... our administrators and many of my fellow teachers didn't want to hear any of that, though.
Competition would be truly good for our American Educational system. There is a reason public education is under attack and if liberals truly wanted their kids to have a better education and not just be better socialized, they would be for choice.
Why all you folks on that side are against choice in education when nearly all of your leaders have put their kids through good private schools makes one giggle at the silliness of the 'thought' process involved there.
But more to the point, which you massively avoided, was coming up with a solution to a major problem, Radical Islam. Instead, not just looking but looking the other way, you want to sweep it under the rug, invite more of the offenders in, call people who are aware and want to tackle the problem bigots, xenophobes... your side likes making the problem solvers the problem...as if any, ANY of that will make the situation better.
Again, one has to laugh.
That all being said, you did not arrive at an ingenious solution, you actually wrote a lot to seemingly deflect coming up with a solution. So what is your solution?
