How Smart are Americans?

by BigT | November 25, 2007 at 12:04 am

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An article in the NY Post
got me to thinking about some other poll results my brother was talking
to me about a while back. Unfortunately any conclusions I made from
this story from the Post and what my brother was telling me was that
there are a bunch of dumb and gullible Americans.

[Story continues below]

Are Americans smart?

This chart from the Post speaks volumes. Many of us are retarded.
But there’s more bad news. Here’s some more bad news about the American
populace from Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Mass Media and Society.

29% think that the constitution guarantees them a job.

42% think that the constitution guarantees them health care.

75% thinks it guarantees them a high school education.

45% think “from each according to his abilities, to each according
to his needs”, a communist tenet, comes from the US Constitution.

More know the Nike slogan “Just do it” then know where “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is set forth.

More know about Bill Gates being the founder of Microsoft then know that Alexander Hamilton is one of the Founding Fathers.

Less then half can name their representative to congress.

In 1998, 56% couldn’t name a single democrat candidate for
president for 2000 and 63% recognized the name “Bush” but couldn’t tell
you which one was running.

In 2000, 66% knew that Regis hosted Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

In 2000, 6% knew that Dennis Hastert was the Speaker of the House. [not a typo]

“A 2000 study by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni found
that 81 percent of seniors at the nation’s 55 top colleges scored a D
or F on high school-level history exams.”

And these people vote. These statistics, and there’s a bunch more,
make me sick to my stomach. I think the only way I’ll ever feel good
about an election again is if it is for the next American Idol. BigT

This is why polls are such nonsense, and elections are the only thing that matters - not that their results are always rational.

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How Smart are Americans?

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