Independence Day
July 4th 2007 13:40
I was listening to Sean Hannity yesterday and I finally figured something out that has bothered me for a long time. His producer goes out in public from time to time and gets a group of "average" people to speak on the phone with Sean. He asks them simple questions and you'd be amazed at how few of them can answer correctly. As I listened yesterday, the light dawned on me...
He spoke with several strangers and asked them the following questions:
What holiday is tomorrow? All the folks knew it was the 4th of July.
Is there another name for the 4th of July? They all knew it was Independence Day.
Independence from what? The only one who even tried to answer, said France.
We won a war to get our Independence. What was that war called? Civil War, World War 5, World War 1 and "I don't know" were the replies.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, "I don't know" and (finally) Thomas Jefferson.
What political party do you support? Democrat and "I don't know."
Would you vote for Hillary Clinton? Yes (all answered)
Why? Because she'd be a good president. Because she's a woman. (only two answers.)
What has she done as a senator that makes you think she can be president? All answered "I don't know."
One of those he questioned was a kindergarten teacher! Scary, isn't it?
Some of you might think he picks the dumbest people he can find to ask. So I gave the same idea a try among some of the people I know. Just regular folks, no politicians or Ph.D.s. Of the five I talked to, three claimed to be Democrats, one Independent and one Republican. They all could name the President. Three of them knew who was Vice President. They had all heard of Nancy Pelosi, but only two knew her title. Four plan to vote for Hillary but weren't sure why. Three of them knew what Independence Day celebrates. (One of them thought it was to celebrate having a day off to go swimming...)
So, I guess it's everywhere, folks. Ignorance is rampant, thanks to "feel good" educational methods. Voting appears to be something done out of habit rather than consideration of the candidates and issues. The ignoring and rewriting of history has been remarkably effective.
So, here's what I figured out... We have been "dumbed down" quite successfully. How can people who know nothing be expected to cast their votes wisely? Maybe that's why so many bad people and bad laws emerge from our electoral process... In a democracy, an informed electorate in necessary for survival. An ignorant electorate is the death knell...
Happy Independence Day, Folks!
He spoke with several strangers and asked them the following questions:
What holiday is tomorrow? All the folks knew it was the 4th of July.
Is there another name for the 4th of July? They all knew it was Independence Day.
Independence from what? The only one who even tried to answer, said France.
We won a war to get our Independence. What was that war called? Civil War, World War 5, World War 1 and "I don't know" were the replies.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, "I don't know" and (finally) Thomas Jefferson.
What political party do you support? Democrat and "I don't know."
Would you vote for Hillary Clinton? Yes (all answered)
Why? Because she'd be a good president. Because she's a woman. (only two answers.)
What has she done as a senator that makes you think she can be president? All answered "I don't know."
One of those he questioned was a kindergarten teacher! Scary, isn't it?
Some of you might think he picks the dumbest people he can find to ask. So I gave the same idea a try among some of the people I know. Just regular folks, no politicians or Ph.D.s. Of the five I talked to, three claimed to be Democrats, one Independent and one Republican. They all could name the President. Three of them knew who was Vice President. They had all heard of Nancy Pelosi, but only two knew her title. Four plan to vote for Hillary but weren't sure why. Three of them knew what Independence Day celebrates. (One of them thought it was to celebrate having a day off to go swimming...)
So, I guess it's everywhere, folks. Ignorance is rampant, thanks to "feel good" educational methods. Voting appears to be something done out of habit rather than consideration of the candidates and issues. The ignoring and rewriting of history has been remarkably effective.
So, here's what I figured out... We have been "dumbed down" quite successfully. How can people who know nothing be expected to cast their votes wisely? Maybe that's why so many bad people and bad laws emerge from our electoral process... In a democracy, an informed electorate in necessary for survival. An ignorant electorate is the death knell...
Happy Independence Day, Folks!
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Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Happy 4th, SL!
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