One third of Americans polled can't name the vice president of the US

[BrklynLiberal]

What is happenening to the brains of Americans???!!!!

<snip>

When asked to identify the three branches of government, one in five American adults responds with Republican, Democrat and Independent. Thirty- five percent of those polled think the United States Constitution makes English our official language. Nearly a third of Americans polled can't name the vice president of the United States.

But maybe these numbers are not quite as shocking as they first appear. In a free society, people can choose not to know. It is a luxury a wealthy and technologically advanced country affords its citizens. Yet we need to ask: how much 'not knowing' can the world afford?

Consider for a moment the headlines and news stories of the past year alone. In December Iran held an "International Holocaust Conference" largely for the purpose of denying the Holocaust ever happened. In Japan the Prime Minister claimed there is "no evidence to prove coercion" of the women forced into sex slavery by the Japanese army during World War II. At the International AIDS conference in Toronto, South Africa's health minister questioned the science of AIDS treatment and promoted a diet of garlic, lemon and beetroot as a viable alternative to anti-retroviral drugs now in use. Here at home, the Environmental Protection Agency ignored the advice of its own scientists (and an expert advisory panel) that fine-particle soot in the air be reduced as a proven human health risk. Next month, outside Cincinnati, the $25 million Creation Museum will open featuring a diorama of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.... happily co-existing with dinosaurs, whose fossil remains must be accounted for in some manner. Meanwhile, a recent Newsweek poll found 39 percent of those surveyed believed the theory of evolution is "not well- supported" by evidence.

We must all beware the very real and understandable human tendency to ignore or subvert facts, and findings of science, that discomfort us for reasons of ideology, politics, religion or personal taste.

This willful ignorance is not a simple matter of people just having the wrong facts. Science constantly gets it wrong, as for instance when I was in medical school, and was taught that peptic ulcers were the result of stress and too much stomach acid. Then in 1982 two Australian scientists announced peptic ulcers were really caused through infection by spiral-shaped bacteria. It was many years before the medical establishment fully accepted this theory — and if you had a peptic ulcer during this time, I'm sorry, you probably suffered needlessly until someone thought to give you antibiotics.

<snip>

http://www.jhu.edu/commencement/speeches/brody.html

[trumad]

1. I inow the answer---

It's George W. Bush.

[William769]

3. I geuss I didn't know either.

I would have said Darth Vader.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. How hard is it to remember Darth Vader?

[liberalEd]

30. It's a Jedi Mind Trick

"I am not the evil vice president you're looking for"

[IDemo]

4. "One in five, nearly a third, 35 percent"....

Can't blame it all on the 28 Percenters, but the numbers are too close to ignore.

[kurth]

5. Just some unknown jackass hiding in an undisclosed location

Not worth remembering.

[rucky]

16. "Work the dark side, if you will."

"Spend time in the shadows of the intelligence world."

No wonder nobody knows who he is.

[erinmblair]

51. Well, they should ask this question...

Do you know who Darth Cheney is?

Quite frankly, I think people refer to him in much not-so-friendly terms...

[Toots]

6. Ask them if they know about Bart and Lisa

I would bet there would be no such lack of knowledge...

[VP505]

7. Don't hold

that against them, wish I didn't know who that a**hole is either.

[NightWatcher]

8. I'm not a fan of poll taxes, but I wonder how many people voted who didnt know the VP

I think that if we had a very simple quiz before being allowed to vote we might weed out some ignorant folks. They could announce the answers to the quiz in advance or let it be known that you'd need to know who the pres, vp, adn sec of state are to vote.

Or not, I wonder how many of these who dont know who the vp is can actually find their polling place.

[Mz Pip]

9. A poll of whom?

Kindergarteners? Cheney is the most powerful guy in the country and 1/3 don't know who he is? No wonder we're so fucked.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Clark2008]

14. My son knew who the VP was in kindergarten.

Can't blame these Americans' ignorance on age.

[ChazII]

20. Gov't in its most basic form

is taught in 3rd grade in my district. My students have always been able to name the president and VP since 1980 (when I began my teaching career).

[Mz Pip]

21. My 4th grade

students cheered when the Florida Court ruled that the votes had to be counted. I had the radio on in my classroom. When the announcement came I told the class in a matter of fact way (didn't want to appear partisan).One kid was literally dancing in the aisle.

We'd curent events every Friday. Students would bring newspaper/magazine articles to read and discuss. We had everything from world news to cute animal stories, but they learned how to gather and present information.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[BrklynLiberal]

28. Among the goals of BushCo and Christian Reconstructionists is to totally destroy public education.

This level of ignorance is a sad commentary on how successful they are.
Sadly, the media is, once again, complicit.

[Mz Pip]

32. Then the only

people who will be educated will be the ones who can afford it. Sounds like a return to feudalism.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Gelliebeans]

42. Thank you

for teaching our children well. I just saw your post and wanted to tell you as a parent I appreciate it. :hi:

[mcscajun]

10. Well, he certainly has been the least visible VP in modern times.

But still... Wow.

[dave_p]

11. "In a free society, people can choose not to know"

Ignorance is the enemy of freedom and democracy. If you don't know the facts, you can't make an informed free choice, and you detract from others' collective capacity to do so.

I think it's time society demanded more of those who claim citizenship while refusing to equip themselves for its responsibities.

Maybe we need a Stupidity Tax. And maybe it's time the vote was limited to those who have a fucking clue what they're voting on.

I lost patience with this kind of idiocy a long time ago.

[BrklynLiberal]

13. Thomas Jefferson said that ignorance and freedom are mutually exclusive:

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents. There is no safe deposit for these but with the people themselves; nor can they be safe with them without information. Where the press is free, and every man able to read, all is safe." - Thomas Jefferson

[Selatius]

34. And Thomas Jefferson was right, but I would have to qualify that statement

It is true a democracy cannot survive without an informed citizenry, but at the same time, if people have the freedom of choice on the issue, not everybody will choose to be informed. Some will willfully choose to be ignorant, and that's fine because most people want to know what's happening instead of being kept in the dark. The 30 percent of Americans who still support Bush are the ones who wish to remain willfully ignorant, and that's fine because it means the other 70 percent indicate a willingness to learn.

[tavalon]

45. Wilfully ignorant

is a very ugly thing.

[tavalon]

44. Quite visionary was that man

And quite right. Part of the reason the neocons were able to subvert our government is because the masses are so uninformed and distracted.

[mediawatch]

12. truly sad

I can't even make a joke about it

[Straight Shooter]

15. I wish they had done a cross-reference questionnaire of who watches Pox News.

By the way, *cough*, you misspelled "happening." :D

[BrklynLiberal]

22. oops. And it is too late for an edit correction.

:blush:

[iamjoy]

17. A Local Radio Host In Orlando

did a little test. This was probably about ten years ago on our talk radio station. He was playing a little two question trivia game and the first caller to get both right won a free pizza. Now, here's the catch. He asked the first question on the air, but waited for people to call with the answer to that before asking them the second question.

First question: name the four Beatles

Later, he played some of the calls. People easily answered the first question. The second was to name four people who currently represented our state in Washington DC. Dead air, lots of stammering. I think a few people named the governor and some famous old political names - in at least one case of somebody who was dead.

Sometimes I think we are a very foolish country.

[ThomWV]

18. ... and the other 2/3's find it disgusting to do so.

The other half of the poll ...

[BrklynLiberal]

23. heh heh heh heh

So true.

[Spazito]

19. Wow, stunning, imo, when they think the three branches of

government are "Republican, Democrat and Independent." I bet they know who won American Idol though and by how much.

[BrklynLiberal]

24. It is so pathetic..but I am sure you are right. They all know American Idol

and Survivor factoids.

[RubyDuby in GA]

48. I heard the other day that 12 million more people voted for American Idol last week

than voted in the last presidential election.

fucking pathetic!

[SammyWinstonJack]

25. What the ?????? "When asked to identify the three branches of government,

one in five American adults responds with Republican, Democrat and Independent." :wtf: That can't be true! :dunce:

[bdamomma]

53. that is sad, willful ignorance is correct.

[jmowreader]

26. Most people can't name the VP because...

"Cthulhu" is not an easily pronounceable name.

[BrklynLiberal]

27. ROTFLMAO! Just spit my ginger ale on the key board.....

[Aviation Pro]

29. Does bear a striking resemblence....

[badgerpup]

35. Kuh-THOO-loo

We will worship great Cthulu, though he's slimy, cold and cruel-u.
Still our sabbats are a lulu and that's good enough for me!
Chorus:
Oh that old time religion, that old time religion, that old time religion,
it's good enough for meeeee!

[FloridaJudy]

38. Snort!

You're lucky I swallowed my tea before I read that!

:spray: :rofl:

Go Miscatonic University, Fighting Cephalopods!



(edited to add graphic)

[DamnYank]

31. I still remember the introduction my junior high school principal

wrote in our yearbook: "Only in a nation where ignorance prevails can a few selfish men gain control of the people".

USA-PATRIOT Act
Military Commissions Act
NSPD-51/HSPD-20

Ultimately the American people will get the government they deserve.

:nopity:

[nam78_two]

33. Was this a Freepers-only poll?

When asked to identify the three branches of government, one in five American adults responds with Republican, Democrat and Independent.

:shrug:?
Jeebus...

[Booster]

36. The most dangerous man on this earth, and they don't know his

name. We are surely doomed.

[Lisa]

37. and half of the remainder are terrified to say his name aloud 3 times ...

... in case he appears in front of them and rips out their hearts!

[FloridaJudy]

39. Brad Angelina Paris Anna's baby Lindsey Sanjaya Britney

What? You mean those aren't members of the Supreme Court? Never mind.

[Wilms]

40. Hey, Bklyn. You sure you got that right?

Or is it that 1/3 of those polled can't bear to utter his name. Afterall, I get that way at times.

:shrug:

[BrklynLiberal]

49. I feel that away about Prez Shit-for-Brains as well. The sight or sound of him

makes me feel physically ill.

[Lord Helmet]

41. well that explains a lot

[sandnsea]

43. Changing minds to change votes

We have to educate people to change their minds. WE are the ones who have to do it. We have to take the online, offline, and we have to talk in words the uninformed will hear and understand.

[SoCalDem]

46. actually that may be a good thing..

It means that for at least that many people, his evil message has not penetrated their skulls..

but it also means that their heads may be too full of sales at the Gap and who's ahead on American idol and where did they bury Anna Nicole :shrug:

[JI7]

47. the 3 branches of Govt responses made me laugh

Dem Rep and Indie ?????? hahha

it's shouldn't be as funny as sad. but i would have laughed in the face of anyone who gave me that answer.

[Dark]

50. Good God.

We claim we're numero uno when we don't even know about our government.

I'm ashamed. No wonder America is the laughingstock of the International community.

[Telly Savalas]

52. Repression of memory is a coping mechanism for dealing with trauma.