The Pew Research Center recently surveyed Americans regarding their knowledge about public affairs and found that even with the explosion of information technology over the past 20 years, the level of knowledge has not increased.
As a matter of fact, only 69 percent of those surveyed could recall the name of Dick Cheney, the current vice president, whereas in 1989, 74 percent came up with the name of Dan Quayle. The most informed age group was older than 65, while the most uninformed age group was 18-29.
What does this say about the Information Age? Whatever its government does, the next generation may be too involved in YouTube and MySpace to notice.
Posted by Patrice Hein
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Wonderful current public education in social studies. What is it teaching?
The other night I watched a debate at St. Vincent college, it seems that a friend of President Bush had invited the President to be the commencement speaker and Bush agreed. A number of the graduating class were offended and the President of St. Vincent’s agree to allow a debate on the matter. True those may not have been the average young people. But they certainly were well informed and did point out many valid points both pro and con. Though those apposed to the President being the speaker it was more because of Bush is not a shining example of honor and the teachings of St. Benedict. While those in favor talked about it being a political view and that it was a great honor to have a setting President speak to the class.
But granted that there just maybe too much information available, much of it given too much credence with out it being factual. For some this blog is more a source for information then the MSM. We have become a two second sound bite people. Everything seem to be cut down to find into a simple phrase or Clique.
Who are these people who cannot name the vice president? You see them on Leno and I always thought it was staged.
Mom it is part apathy and part priorities, those I have came across who did not know who George Bush is little alone Dick Chaney. Often think there is nothing they can do about the government and feel it is not worth their time or thoughts. It is very difficult for me to find someone outside of here that will even discuss politics or the Iraq war. The WSU cheerleaders being dethroned is more interesting for them then the war.And these are not teenagers these are people in their thirties!
More then once I have had to explain whom I mean by Bush or Chaney and then I see in their eyes that they totally lose any interest. At work I can kind of understand, it could be a firing offense to talk about politic, religion, abortion or anything that may offend or involve a topic that could invoke emotions.So why not sports? LoL I have witnessed more heated debates about who is the best pitcher, quarter back and the
This is by design.
Government is working hand in glove with big corporations (corporatism) to give citizens the illusion that everything that happens is “natural” and “inevitable.”
The pundits are doing our thinking for us. The markets are allocating our resources. The government is spending our taxes. The media tells us what’s important. (With the corallary that if they don’t tell us, it must not be important.)
We have allowed ourselves to become exactly what corporatism wants–unthinking buying machines focussed entirely on short-term acquisition.
Government has become shielded from its own constituents, in part by the willing idiots who parrot the corporatist line that “we’re a republic, not a democracy.”
In other words, let the powerful run the country. You’re just a citizen. Sit down and shut up.
Ahhh…a conspiracy, is it, Capn? Could it be that schools have to ‘dumb down’ to the lowest denominator, resulting in decreased quality of education? Naww…obviously, it is yet another conspiracy, right?
*sigh*. I guess I missed the black helicopter flyover…
I agree with Writerdog. I do not find that most people want to talk about politics. It’s annoying, since I grew up with a very political mom, and it was something that was always discussed in our home. Now the only person I get to talk politics with is my best friend, and since we’re both so busy, we don’t get to talk that often.
This is by design.
Government schools are working hand in glove with the United Nations (globalism) to give citizens the illusion that everything that happens is “America’s fault” and “preventable.”
The pundits are doing our thinking for us. The government insiders are allocating our resources. The government is lowering our taxes. The media tells us what’s important. (With the corallary that if they don’t tell us, it must not be important.)
We have allowed ourselves to become exactly what globalism wants–unthinking buying machines focussed entirely on government rations.
Government has become shielded from its own constituents, in part by the willing idiots who parrot the globalist line “think globally, not locally.”
In other words, let the powerful run the country. You’re just a citizen. Sit down and shut up.
I’m a crackpot whose lost his way. . .A public servant who was born mostly gay. . .Just you shut-up and do as I say. . .Let’s all be poor together. . .today!
O’reilley did a great expose this Mon. night on the Soros “web” or deciet on the internet and the care and feeding of the left wing blogosphere. (Somewher the WE folks get their talking points from this left wing “media machine”.
It was very informative and revealing.
Watch all this week, and see how much “truth” and influence a few Billion can buy the left and the Democratic Party!
Actually, that 31% are the people who have been trying the hardest to forget Cheney and the rest of the current administration.