Dumb Americans

[R_C]

How Dumb Are We?

NEWSWEEK gave 1,000 Americans the U.S. Citizenship Test--38 percent failed. The country's future is imperiled by our ignorance.

By Andrew Romano March 20, 2011


When NEWSWEEK recently asked 1,000 U.S. citizens to take America’s official citizenship test, <span style="font-weight: bold">29 percent couldn’t name the vice president</span>. Seventy-three percent couldn’t correctly say why we fought the Cold War. Forty-four percent were unable to define the Bill of Rights. And 6 percent couldn’t even circle Independence Day on a calendar.

To appreciate the risks involved, it’s important to understand where American ignorance comes from. In March 2009, the European Journal of Communication asked citizens of Britain, Denmark, Finland, and the U.S. to answer questions on international affairs. The Europeans clobbered us. Sixty-eight percent of Danes, 75 percent of Brits, and 76 percent of Finns could, for example, identify the Taliban, but only 58 percent of Americans managed to do the same—even though we’ve led the charge in Afghanistan.

© 2011 The Newsweek/Daily Beast Company LLC

Full story here.

[barosa]

Re: Dumb Americans

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: R_C</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How Dumb Are We?

NEWSWEEK gave 1,000 Americans the U.S. Citizenship Test--38 percent failed. The country's future is imperiled by our ignorance.

By Andrew Romano March 20, 2011


When NEWSWEEK recently asked 1,000 U.S. citizens to take America’s official citizenship test, <span style="font-weight: bold">29 percent couldn’t name the vice president</span>. Seventy-three percent couldn’t correctly say why we fought the Cold War. Forty-four percent were unable to define the Bill of Rights. And 6 percent couldn’t even circle Independence Day on a calendar.

To appreciate the risks involved, it’s important to understand where American ignorance comes from. In March 2009, the European Journal of Communication asked citizens of Britain, Denmark, Finland, and the U.S. to answer questions on international affairs. The Europeans clobbered us. Sixty-eight percent of Danes, 75 percent of Brits, and 76 percent of Finns could, for example, identify the Taliban, but only 58 percent of Americans managed to do the same—even though we’ve led the charge in Afghanistan.

© 2011 The Newsweek/Daily Beast Company LLC

Full story here.

</div></div>

Now we know why someone like &quot;Beck&quot; was so influential in certain quarters.. The nation's basic education system is in shatters.... As long as those at the top are doing OK, what do they care about the poor and the undereducated? No wonder &quot;home schooling&quot; has taken off; the only way for blacks to get proper education is for them to circumvent the public school sytem.. There must be a reason why some in Congress wants to cut back on the &quot;Education Funding&quot;

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Just like oil, the truth always surface to the top..

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[Magician]

Re: Dumb Americans

Sad but not surprising.


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[R_C]

Re: Dumb Americans

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">&quot;Rep. Tom Marino, R-10, Lycoming Twp., said he supports Mr. Gadhafi's removal but said Mr. Obama should have consulted Congress before acting.&quot;Where does it stop?&quot; he said. <span style="font-weight: bold">&quot;Do we go into Africa next?</span> I don't want to sound callous or cold, but this could go on indefinitely around the world.&quot;</div></div>

I did not make this up. A sitting US congressman did not know that Libya is in Africa.

see story here

[remo]

Re: Dumb Americans

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magix</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sad but not surprising.


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I imagine she will run for President in a few years

[remo]

Re: Dumb Americans

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: R_C</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">&quot;Rep. Tom Marino, R-10, Lycoming Twp., said he supports Mr. Gadhafi's removal but said Mr. Obama should have consulted Congress before acting.&quot;Where does it stop?&quot; he said. <span style="font-weight: bold">&quot;Do we go into Africa next?</span> I don't want to sound callous or cold, but this could go on indefinitely around the world.&quot;</div></div>

I did not make this up. A sitting US congressman did not know that Libya is in Africa.

see story here
</div></div>

This guy is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee

[f0rTyLeGz]

Re: Dumb Americans

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: remo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This guy is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee </div></div>
This fool was the 44th Vice President.

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Being smart has for half a century been equated with weakness, and not really manly, by a large percentage of the population. Think Archie Bunker.

[R_C]

Re: Dumb Americans

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">some people....correctly believe that Obama was born in Hawaii, but...don't consider Hawaii to be part of the United States. <span style="font-weight: bold"> 6% of poll respondents think that Hawaii is not part of the country and 4% are unsure.</span></div></div>