Just How Stupid Are We?

In this video historian Rick Shenkman discusses the subject of his new book: JUST HOW STUPID ARE WE? FACING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE AMERICAN VOTER (Basic Books, June 2008).

Mr. Shenkman is an associate professor of history at George Mason University and the editor of the History News Network.

He blogs at: http://howstupidblog.com

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• stupidity
• civics
• iraq
• war

[kuskut]

In the not too distant future when people cannot get their Social Security or Medicare support they will wake up.

We have people who want to teach Creationism in schools just to pander to the religious right.

The USA is on the brink of financial collapse and not very many people are aware of it. Our national debt is US$9+ Trillion.

Too many of us only read material that support our ideology. We are more divided than we have been in a long time and the politicians are loving it.

[amet1980]

this fucking idiot is a university professor in a prestigious university, you neocon idiot..

[USFullOfLies]

they plotted the 9/11 themselves ( US Government )

[Botie2]

@wiltester Interesting enuff for you to coment. What you really mean is yopu dont like what he says.

[wiltester]

You are a moron. and this is all kind of "Not Interesting"

you should be ashamed... You are doing nothing more than playing to these idiots.

stop trying to educate adults.

[TheFreeFlow]

@Hithard177 & GTRrocker666

at least a few people make sense and actually have a brain, wow. What ur saying is absolutely right. U should start a revolution, the goal should be eleminating corruption and development of education and knowledge. First of all the corrupt people and system must disapear, then focusing on education to prevent another corrupt system from upcoming would be the best u could do.

[jethrodassam]

I wish it was as easy as all of that.

[Hithard177]

@GTRrocker666 The original American Revolution didn't involve voting for change. The colonists disrupted ordinary business (Boston Tea Party) and eventually resisted British Occupation with force. We can use a variety of tactics to resist without violence, primarily in the form of massive disengagement - i.e. don't buy ANYTHING from corporations, don't go to work, don't pay taxes, disrupt commerce. Risk = reward. Complacency/apathy/ignorance = FAILURE

[Hithard177]

@GTRrocker666 You are absolutely correct, but the reason is that corporate wealth has overwhelmed the political process and elected officals are forced into compliance on most issues. With the recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of "unlimited Corporate speech" corporations can now purchase unlimited amounts of advertising to defeat any candidate that doesn't PLAY BALL. We're done unless we revolt. More to follow...

[GaolisVideoLog]

I'm not American but the Germans taught me this: "Every country get's the government it deserves". Meaning, if you as an American don't like your government system, than change it. Think about it, how many people are in your government, and how many people are the "ordinary Joes and Janes" are there?

[MunkDaMunk]

Voting doesn't change anything,

U can change smthg getting into politics, but - even if u start with lofty ideals - by the time u get to the top u'll be yet another corrupted shmuck. Cuz to make it in politics u'll have to make dirty deals no matter if u like it or not. And the circle is complete: ur another politician not worth voting for.

And no! i don't think i'm cynical.