The Intercollegiate Studies Institute could probably explain why it is that the American people voted for socialism this time around. You’ll find a link to them in the sidebar. Meanwhile, here’s a few excerpts from a recent article in USA Today that ought to wake you up!

“Without knowledge of your country’s history, key texts and institutions, you don’t have a frame of reference to judge the politics and policies of today,” says Richard Brake, head of the institute’s American Civic Literacy Program.

Earlier reports focused solely on college students; the new study expands the focus and concludes Americans across all economic, educational and political/social backgrounds are equally lacking. Among findings:

• 71% earn an F; the average score was 49%. Ages 25 to 34 had an average score of 46%; ages 45 to 64 had a 52% average. Of 164 respondents who say they have held elected office, 44% was average.

If you think that’s bad, there’s more. I’ve commented before about how our elected officials don’t bother to obey the restrictions found in the Constitution. It appears that there’s good reason for that — they simply don’t know them. [Update: What does it say when people who have held elected office score worse than the average citizen on this test? It tells me at least that the average citizen is better qualified to hold elected office than the people that run for office. What kind of morons are we when we elect people to represent us that know less about the job than we do?]

Those who have held elected office lack civic knowledge; 43% do not know the Electoral College is a constitutionally mandated assembly that elects the president. One in five thinks it “trains those aspiring for higher office” or “was established to supervise the first televised presidential debates.”

Can there be any doubt that our educational system is failing us as citizens? This is why it is that I’m constantly saying we need to educate one another. Without that education, without an understanding of foundational principles we might as well flip a coin in the polling booth. Heck, if we flip a coin we might even get better results.

One last point from the study…

Civic knowledge declines in proportion to time spent using passive media, such as TV. Reading and talking about history and current events, using the Internet and being involved in political activities has a positive effect.

So turn off the TV and start reading! Either that, or enjoy the government that you get while you lose your freedoms. After all, we get the government we deserve.

http://perrinelson.com/2008/11/20/1281.aspx

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