Flashpoint : Just How Stupid Are We?

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Just How Stupid Are We?

Brendan McLaughlin

My guest on Flashpoint this Sunday morning points out that:

Only 2 out of 5 citizens 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 we have 100 US senators.

This is just some of the evidence Author Rick Shenkman assembles to make the case that the American voter is a little lacking in... shall we say- curiosity. In my interview with the author of "Just How Stupid Are We?- Facing the Truth About the American Voter" Shenkman runs from his own title by unconvincingly assuring me that he thinks American politics, not the voters themselves are stupid. Still, he's persuasive in arguing that We, The People are frighteningly uninformed and/or misinformed.

Attachment: Just_how_stupid_are_we.jpg (28195 bytes)

In September of 2003 a poll showed that a solid majority of Americans believed Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the attacks of 9-11. Let that fact wash over your cerebellum for a few minutes and then ponder what kind of world we'd live in if just slightly more Americans didn't have their heads firmly implanted ... in the sand.

When you consider the immensely complex issues (tax reform) and important choices (McCain v Obama) facing Florida voters this November, this book is almost enough to make you want to make Charlie Crist King of the Realm and be done with it, but Shenkman still supports direct democracy- to a point. Hear my interview with Rick Shenkman, former local news manager, author and historian this Sunday morning on Flashpoint. And as always, let me know what you think.

Published Friday, June 27, 2008 8:56 PM by Brendan
Attachment(s): Just_how_stupid_are_we.jpg

Comments

	Patsy Blakeman said: I do think that Americans are leaving everything up to the politicians to do everything but they have been trained to do that. After the politicians are elected most of them are unaccessible and treat the voters like they are stupid and need to be kept at arms length from these now very important people. Also, I watched on my television as the UN blue-hats stood by and watched as I also watched, semi trucks and trailers leave Iraq. What was in these trailers? Maybe weapons of mass destruction--germs!!! Yes, they were involved with the terrorists but were allowed to remove the evidence. America, wake up. Start calling your representatives and senators. This is still a government of the people by the people and for the people. We elected them and we can remove them. June 29, 2008 10:26 AM
	Jim Johnson said: Brendan, Good show today (as usual). I would say Americans are not stupid, they are apathetic. As you pointed out, and so did Shenkman, information is readily accessible and free. So why don't Americans know more? Quite simply: they don't care. I've quoted a fact I saw many years ago, and I think it's still true today: the most popular television show in Tampa Bay at 6:00pm is ... The Simpsons (on WTOG). That fact should tell you that Americans are not only stupid, they don't care how stupid they are. It's only going to get worse... Heck, it almost makes me think of the movie "Idiocracy"... June 29, 2008 11:07 AM
	Brian Murray said: Patsy Blakeman is, apparently as the titled suggests, That stupid! Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 and she and the rest of these blockheads that hold on to this notion presented by this illegal administration need to be prevented from participating in a free and educated society. To put more crisply, Patsy; you're an idiot and try doing some research rather than just get your information from the morons that run Fox News. Or, go enlist and fight the fight. Jim Johnson stated it best: We are that stupid and we don't care and unfortunately once you get away from the northeast and pacific coast, the intelligence level drops off considerably and as long as these politicians tell everyone what good christians they are, the south and rural midwest gives these crooks a pass. June 29, 2008 1:57 PM
	pblake65 said: brian murray evidently is stupid too if he doesn't watch television news because there are some honest reporters who report the news. You didn't mention that as the U.N. blue hats were watching, semi trucks and trailers were hauling something out of Iraq which was probably the chemicals they had already used on their own people. Also ignorance on Brian's part because he would only allow some people to participate in a free and educated society which is scary. By the way, this is still a government of the people for the people and by the people, thank you. By the way, where did you do your research? June 30, 2008 9:59 AM
	thomas said: Thanks for putting on Mr Shenkman and his book, "Just how stupid are we?" The statistics speak for them selves. Karl Rove manipulated an ignorant majority, (which really should be Bush's legacy) like the mindless sheep we are. The even scarier part of this, is the complicity of Congress and the media. They folded like a two dollar suit. All because they didn't want to be labeled "liberal" or anti-American. It's really disheartening to see how easy it is to dupe the vast majority. I understand there are solutions in this book, a good reason to buy it. July 2, 2008 6:26 AM