GET A BRAIN! MORANS!

The high cost of ignorance
By Kelvin Wade
March 24, 2011

Newsweek gave 1,000 Americans the U.S. citizenship test and 38 percent failed. On one level it's surprising the majority passed the test. But how can we hope to build a strong nation and thriving citizenry when four out of 10 don't have a grasp of civics? For some reason while writing this I can't help but hum Green Day's song, 'American Idiot.'

There are some questions that aren't surprising that people missed. Only 4 percent knew the Constitution has 27 amendments. Only 20 percent knew Woodrow Wilson was president during World War I. And just 12 percent could name one of the authors of the Federalist Papers.

Then come answers that make one think Mike 'The Situation' and Charlie Sheen are in charge of education in America. When asked what happened at the Constitutional Convention, 65 percent didn't know the Constitution was written. That's a Grant's tomb question. Can you believe 70 percent didn't know the Constitution was the supreme law of the land? (Deport these folks now!) And 67 percent failed to identify capitalism as America's economic system. Hmm . . . I wonder if they answered 'socialism.'

It doesn't help that our elected officials don't seem to have a grasp of history, either. In a speech in Iowa earlier this year, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., head of the House Tea Party Caucus, wrongly said our Founding Fathers 'worked tirelessly to end slavery.' Perhaps she just jumbled her words and really meant that they 'worked their slaves' rear ends tirelessly.'

Recently, testing the waters for a presidential run, Bachmann told a New Hampshire audience she was glad to be in the place where the shot heard 'round the world was fired. That came as news to Massachusetts's residents, who must have mistakenly believed the battles of Lexington and Concord happened in their state.

Perhaps she should spend less time trying to make history and more time studying it.

Test results like this aren't new. For years, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute has conducted broader history and civics tests with thousands of people, with dismal results.

The point isn't just to laugh at what we don't know. But what it indicates is a public that's not very well informed and maybe that's the reason we're governed so poorly. A new CBS News poll finds Congress' approval at 21 percent. The California Legislature's approval is 16 percent. If they're idiots, what does that make us for electing them?

Our ignorance shows up in the polling. The CBS News poll starts off well showing that eight out of 10 Americans want both parties to compromise on the budget. But a solid majority of Americans don't want the Social Security retirement age raised, higher taxes or reduced Medicare. Forty-four percent oppose reducing Social Security for those with higher incomes. Nearly half oppose reducing defense spending.

So then how will we reduce the deficit/debt? This is the equivalent of going on a diet but exempting fast food and sweets.

Most want to cut spending by eliminating foreign aid. That's less than 1 percent of the budget. If we're not serious, we can't expect our leaders to be.

Our leaders don't lead. They follow public opinion. The sharper and better informed we are, the better they will be. Peace.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES: Go on to Newsweek and take the test yourself. How did I do? How do you think I did? I wouldn't have had the stones to write this if I didn't score 100% on that test. I love history. I know for a lot of people history and civics holds all the appeal of a insurance seminar followed by a paint drying demonstration. I get it. We're all into different stuff. But the thing is...we're holding the reins of government.

Our government is not going to make the hard choices unless we give them the political cover to do so (because holding onto their seat in office is worth more to them than the long term health of the republic.). That may sound harsh but can you deny it? Doesn't matter which party. Their seat is the most important thing to them. I'll give them that the country is a close second. It's a shame they need cover (our backing) in order to do what's right but they do. Like I said, this isn't a left-right, Republican-Democrat thing. Last year, Republican John Boehner suggested we need to raise the Social Security retirement age to 70. Democrats pounced on him and he shut up about it. That's what usually happens. When someone starts talking seriously about what we need to do, the other side will use it against them for cheap political points and the debate evaporates. Both sides do it.

And its killing us. And if we don't grow up, sacrifice, eat our broccoli and make sure our leaders do the right thing....it's a wrap on that American Dream thing.