These Nincompoops will be Voting in November

[Notrump]

Below is a link to interviews of Americans conducted by the staff of an Australian TV program. Certainly, they edited out those who provided intelligent answers. Nevertheless, they had no trouble finding plenty of idiots in a short period of time. It causes one to wonder about the state of American education and the lack of critical thinking by adults. I find it mind boggling that each person we see being questioned in the video could cast a vote equal to my own in the upcoming presidential election.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6r1IcY1pv0&feature=related

[-Axiom-]

I am glad I went to a private school.

[fuelair]

Ever watched competitions on Howard Stern (the bleeped and blurred tv version)?
Ever watched a similar test on the streets of downtown Sydney?
Just a hint!! Most people are abysmally ignorant of things much beyond the local - partly because they feel no need to be otherwise.


If you have not seen a video of a Harvard graduation a few years back where random (non-physics/astronomy) grads and profs were asked how the seasons occured, you might want to. It was as embarassing to the college crowd as this is supposed to be to USians.

[quixotecoyote]

This is the boilerplate post explaining how selective editing, unrepresentative samples, etc. are used to make "Group X is stupid" segments for any possible population.

[MarkCorrigan]

Ever watched competitions on Howard Stern (the bleeped and blurred tv version)?
Ever watched a similar test on the streets of downtown Sydney?
Just a hint!! Most people are abysmally ignorant of things much beyond the local - partly because they feel no need to be otherwise..

Yes and no. For example, the vast majority of people will know who certain leaders are, even if they don't watch much (or any) news, or read any papers. However, I have had to explain to a number of Americans, all of whom were very intelligent (I wouldn't associate with anyone who wasn't) that the British Public don't vote for their PM, and to a large portion of those people who Tony Blair/Gordon Brown (delete for time frame) was/is.

I have a serious problem believing that the vast majority of the British populous, even those who are not as richly endowed with brains, would not know who Bush is. Hell, most Brits know a surprising amount about international politics (often only at the level of names, but still) because British television, radio and newspapers spend a large portion of time on international news. From what I've heard, and the stuff I've seen when I could stomach US "news" TV, it barely touches on international news, and when it does it's always seen from a purely American angle.

[Alt+F4]

Nevertheless, they had no trouble finding plenty of idiots in a short period of time.

What makes you think it was a short period of time? Those questions could have been asked over a period of days, weeks, months. The person asking the questions has at least four wardrobe changes and some of the interviews were in New York City, others in Miami.

If you really wanted to find out how smart or stupid the average American is compare all the answers over a set period of time. But then this video was only made to goof, it can't prove anything.

[LawnOven]

Yes and no. For example, the vast majority of people will know who certain leaders are, even if they don't watch much (or any) news, or read any papers. However, I have had to explain to a number of Americans, all of whom were very intelligent (I wouldn't associate with anyone who wasn't) that the British Public don't vote for their PM, and to a large portion of those people who Tony Blair/Gordon Brown (delete for time frame) was/is.

I have a serious problem believing that the vast majority of the British populous, even those who are not as richly endowed with brains, would not know who Bush is. Hell, most Brits know a surprising amount about international politics (often only at the level of names, but still) because British television, radio and newspapers spend a large portion of time on international news. From what I've heard, and the stuff I've seen when I could stomach US "news" TV, it barely touches on international news, and when it does it's always seen from a purely American angle.

Um, you do know how big the US is right? In terms of population and geography? And look how much time someone spends at work on average.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_time#Differences_among_countries_and_recen t_trends

For the record

I have to say, that, as an USsian who has had many conversations with UKsians and Austrailians, I have been less than impressed with their knowledge of the US and its underlying political system.

Which honestly was nice to find out, in a way; it wouldn't be a problem if you didn't talk so much 5#%&.

You probably don't know as much as you think you know (or rather your fellow country men don't).

Sorry, this opinion you express is one of my Euro pet peeves.:p

[technoextreme]

f you have not seen a video of a Harvard graduation a few years back where random (non-physics/astronomy) grads and profs were asked how the seasons occured, you might want to. It was as embarassing to the college crowd as this is supposed to be to USians.
That's not embarrassing in the least. It's just a stupid attempt at proving that Americans are stupid.