CONGRESS AND OTHER ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT HISTORY
I have suspected for quite some time that those in whom we have placed our trust and elected to office in this country really have no clue. It has been my opinion that most have never read the Constitution and those that have never comprehended or understood what they read. Additionally having a working knowledge of our history should also be at least a minimal requirement in holding public office but this to is something that elected officials have shown a lack of even basic understanding.
When one does not know or learn from history, one is destined to repeat the failures that have taken place in history. As Americans we should want to have a basic working knowledge of our history and especially how our government works. Well my suspicion about our elected officials as well as our citizens and their lack of knowledge concerning American history has unfortunately been verified to be even worse than I had suspected.
The Intercollegiate Studies Institute recently conducted a test of 2500 Americans many of which were members of Congress or held other state and local elected offices. The test consisted of 33 questions convering basic US history as well as several that covered basic knowledge of our government and economics. Of the 2500 who participated the average score was only a failing 44% among elected officials and only 49 % for average citizens.
Of course in the current political light it is not be surprising that average citizens fared better than those elected. One question that had a very dismal showing from both elected officials and average citizens concerned naming two countries that were our enemies in WWII. Only 54% identified Germany and Japan. Incorrect answers included Britain, Russia, China , Mexico and Spain.
45% incorrectly answered that the President has the power to declare war while 54 % correctly identified that power belonging to Congress. 20% of elected officials believed that the Electoral College was established to, "supervise the first television Presidential debates."
The kicker in the test dealt with the economy which also had the lowest correct answers of the 33 questions on the tests. The questions concerned a basic understanding of economic principles asking why, " free markets typically secure more economic prosperity than government's centralized planning." Only 16% of those tested correctly answered why a free market is more prosperous than a government controlled economy.
And we wonder why bailouts and government control of banks is the answer that Congress is coming up with as the key to solving the current economic down turn ? This test is one of the most telling pieces of evidence as to the ignorance of the uninformed especially when the uninformed are the very people whose knowledge of this Nation, its history and how this country works should be far more than most especially since it is they in whom the government is entrusted ! If you thought we were in trouble before, think again !
Ken Taylor
When one does not know or learn from history, one is destined to repeat the failures that have taken place in history. As Americans we should want to have a basic working knowledge of our history and especially how our government works. Well my suspicion about our elected officials as well as our citizens and their lack of knowledge concerning American history has unfortunately been verified to be even worse than I had suspected.
The Intercollegiate Studies Institute recently conducted a test of 2500 Americans many of which were members of Congress or held other state and local elected offices. The test consisted of 33 questions convering basic US history as well as several that covered basic knowledge of our government and economics. Of the 2500 who participated the average score was only a failing 44% among elected officials and only 49 % for average citizens.
Of course in the current political light it is not be surprising that average citizens fared better than those elected. One question that had a very dismal showing from both elected officials and average citizens concerned naming two countries that were our enemies in WWII. Only 54% identified Germany and Japan. Incorrect answers included Britain, Russia, China , Mexico and Spain.
45% incorrectly answered that the President has the power to declare war while 54 % correctly identified that power belonging to Congress. 20% of elected officials believed that the Electoral College was established to, "supervise the first television Presidential debates."
The kicker in the test dealt with the economy which also had the lowest correct answers of the 33 questions on the tests. The questions concerned a basic understanding of economic principles asking why, " free markets typically secure more economic prosperity than government's centralized planning." Only 16% of those tested correctly answered why a free market is more prosperous than a government controlled economy.
And we wonder why bailouts and government control of banks is the answer that Congress is coming up with as the key to solving the current economic down turn ? This test is one of the most telling pieces of evidence as to the ignorance of the uninformed especially when the uninformed are the very people whose knowledge of this Nation, its history and how this country works should be far more than most especially since it is they in whom the government is entrusted ! If you thought we were in trouble before, think again !
Ken Taylor
posted by The Liberal Lie The Conservative Truth | 12:16 PM
4 Comments:
I'm not sure what, if anything, what to add. Only thing that comes to mind is. Yep.
Well said Greywolfe! It amazes me how ignorant people can be but scare me to think that many of those who are ignorant have been elected!
BTW, welcome to the site. It is always good to have a new reader. I took a look at your site earlier but did not have time to comment. I like what I read and will be keeping a close read.
I do a Blog of the Month every month and will spotlight you for December. Keep up the good work !
Thank you for the honor. I am glad to know that there are so many already out there that hold my beliefs as hard and fast as I do.
I wish there was a way to assure that merit and knowledge were what got you into office, other than a slick illuminati fascade and/or a great ability to network. Aren't there government positions in which you have to take really difficult tests to be considered? Why can't that be for more of them?
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