Well, badly informed is a stretch. Lazy would be more accurate. The information is out there, we just choose to believe what we're spoon fed, more often than not.
Poll: What Americans (Don't) Know
We asked Americans about current events, history and cultural literacy. And we got some pretty disheartening results.
WEB EXCLUSIVE
By Brian Braiker
Newsweek
Updated: 5:53 p.m. ET June 23, 2007
July 2-9, 2007 issue - For our What You Need to Know Now cover story, we asked our polling firm to test 1,001 adults on a variety of topics, including politics, foreign affairs, business, technology and popular culture. The results were mixed, to be charitible. NEWSWEEK's first What You Need to Know Poll found many gaps in America's knowledge—including a lingering misperception about an Iraqi connection to the September 11 terror attacks, an inability to name key figures in the American government and general cultural confusion.
Even today, more than four years into the war in Iraq, as many as four in 10 Americans (41 percent) still believe Saddam Hussein’s regime was directly involved in financing, planning or carrying out the terrorist attacks on 9/11, even though no evidence has surfaced to support a connection. A majority of Americans were similarly unable to pick Saudi Arabia in a multiple-choice question about the country where most of the 9/11 hijackers were born. Just 43 percent got it right—and a full 20 percent thought most came from Iraq.
Still, seven in 10 (70 percent) are aware that the United States has not discovered any hidden weapons of mass destruction in Iraq since the war began. And perhaps because most (85 percent) are aware that Osama bin Laden remains at large, roughly half of the poll’s respondents (52 percent) think that the United States is losing the fight against his terror group, Al Qaeda, despite no military defeats or recent terrorist attacks to suggest as much.
Closer to home, more Americans are able to name Jordin Sparks as the winner of the most recent season of American Idol (18 percent) than can identify John Roberts as the Supreme Court’s chief justice (11 percent). Only one in three (31 percent) know that Ben Bernanke is the current Federal Reserve chairman; a quarter (26 percent) think Alan Greenspan, who retired in early 2006, still holds the position. Still, more than half of those polled (59 percent) could identify Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker in a multiple-choice question. (Younger respondents had a harder time with this question though, with 46 percent of those under 40 able to identify Pelosi compared to 68 percent of those older than 40.)
One third of the public (36 percent) correctly answered a multiple-choice question showing they knew that both Al Gore and Andrew Jackson had lost a presidential election despite winning more popular votes. A similar number (37 percent) could identify Abraham Lincoln as the first Republican elected president.
Our understanding of broader global affairs and history is sketchy at best. Less than half (42 percent) of the public was aware that Iraq only existed as an independent nation since 1920; 15 percent think Iraq existed as a country before and nearly half (43 percent) refrained from even guessing. Conversely, more than half (60 percent) could identify Vladimir Putin as Russia’s leader. Only three in 10 (29 percent) are aware that nine countries posses nuclear weapons. Four in 10 (38 percent) think only five countries posses such technology; 21 percent put the number of nuclear countries at 11.
Roughly half (53 percent) are aware that Judaism is an older religion than both Christianity and Islam (41 percent aren’t sure). And a quarter of the population mistakenly identify either Iran (26 percent) or India (24 percent) as the country with the largest Muslim population. Only 23 percent could correctly identify Indonesia. Close to twothirds (61 percent) are aware that the Roman Empire predates the Ottoman, British and American empires.
NEWSWEEK also quizzed respondents on business, technology, science and medicine. About one third (37 percent) have an idea of the current value of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and even fewer (23 percent) could correctly select 2000 as the year that the dot-com bubble burst. The business question most respondents (55 percent) could answer correctly was the approximate price of oil (about $70).
Americans could only answer one of our three science and medicine questions correctly: 54 percent seemed to know that the human brain does not stop producing new neurons until after the age of 65. Only 15 percent, however, are aware that childbirth kills one woman a minute each day around the world. A quarter (28 percent) mistakenly thinks the top killer of women is AIDS and more than half (54 percent) thought it was heart attacks. Furthermore, only a small minority (17 percent) correctly chose “greater output from the sun” from a list of items as the lone factor that does not contribute to global warming (with 65 percent mistakenly believing that rice patties are not a contributing factor).
On the cultural front, even though there have been many popular television shows and movies based on her work, less than half (40 percent) of Americans can identify Jane Austen as the author of “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility.” Women (44 percent) were somewhat more likely than men (36 percent) to answer the question correctly. Still, nearly two thirds (65 percent) of Americans correctly identified soccer as the most popular sport in the world; just 17 percent believe it’s America’s pastime, baseball.
Geography is not the strongest subject for many Americans either. Less than half of the poll’s respondents (45 percent) know that South Korea is closer to Japan than Vietnam, the Philippines and Australia. Close to twothirds (64 percent) do know that the Amazon River is in South America. And despite Iraq’s ongoing relevance to current events, just half (50 percent) could select Libya as the only country out of a list of four that doesn't border it.
The NEWSWEEK Poll, conducted June 18-19, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points for questions based on Census Current Population Survey parameters for gender, age, education, race and population density. In conducting the poll, Princeton Survey Research Associates International interviewed 1,001 adults aged 18 and older.
This is why I cringe when people say the majority of American's want us out of Iraq... the majority of Americans don't know enough to have an informed decision.
This is why I cringe when people say the majority of American's want us out of Iraq... the majority of Americans don't know enough to have an informed decision.
i have a co-worker who honestly thought we went to war with iraq because of 9/11!! i couldn't believe it! she knows everything about her little community and the people in it, but nothing about what is going in the rest of the world. i thought about clueing her in, but in the end i decided to let her live in her little world....some people are just better that way.
This is why I cringe when people say the majority of American's want us out of Iraq... the majority of Americans don't know enough to have an informed decision.
...
It's the 20% of Americans that are stupid. 80% (the vast majority) of Americans know that the September 11th attackers did NOT come from Iraq.
20% is about the same number that believe the war is going swimmingly.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
This is why I cringe when people say the majority of American's want us out of Iraq... the majority of Americans don't know enough to have an informed decision.
It's a paradox that Americans who don't give a fuck about anyone but themselves, would have an opinion that Iraq means jack shit to them.
It's a paradox that Americans who don't give a fuck about anyone but themselves, would have an opinion that Iraq means jack shit to them.
...
Again, while the numbers remain kind of high, they are still a minority:
41% believe Hussein was directly involved with the September 11, 2001 attacks.
20% believe the majority of hi-jackers came from Iraq.
30% believe we have discovered W.M.D.s in Iraq.
15% believe Usama bin Laden has been captured.
...
And what is President Bush's approval rating? Around 27%? Coincidence?
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
...
Again, while the numbers remain kind of high, they are still a minority:
41% believe Hussein was directly involved with the September 11, 2001 attacks.
20% believe the majority of hi-jackers came from Iraq.
30% believe we have discovered W.M.D.s in Iraq.
15% believe Usama bin Laden has been captured.
...
And what is President Bush's approval rating? Around 27%? Coincidence?
The only one that gives that poll away is the 15% percent thinking bin laden has been caught.
It's like watching Jay Leno finding the stupidest fuckers he can find to take a stupid quiz.
The only one that gives that poll away is the 15% percent thinking bin laden has been caught.
It's like watching Jay Leno finding the stupidest fuckers he can find to take a stupid quiz.
The rest of it doesn't surprise me.
...
He does that 'Jay Walking' bit in either Universal's City Walk or The Grove (a.k.a. The Farmer's Market) in West Los Angeles... both are heavily trafficed by tourists (note the places they say they are from when asked). I heard that they go through a ton of people and only show the few who give the moronic answers because most of the people give the correct answers. But, stupid people with dumb answers are a hell of a lot funnier than 'Know it all smarty pants'.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
...
He does that 'Jay Walking' bit in either Universal's City Walk or The Grove (a.k.a. The Farmer's Market) in West Los Angeles... both are heavily trafficed by tourists (note the places they say they are from when asked). I heard that they go through a ton of people and only show the few who give the moronic answers because most of the people give the correct answers. But, stupid people with dumb answers are a hell of a lot funnier than 'Know it all smarty pants'.
You know, reading this it says 40% 'believe' ... so it's what they think.
Look at the % of idi...er...people here think that the US gov't had a hand in it.
Bullshit. An intelligent peron, like we all are, and have been doing all this time would take the time to ask the shit you want asked. This president doesn't do this.
He stops between the shutting off the light and the monster under the bed mode.
I think the light switch and the monster under the bed is still valid.
...
Not at all. Bush? Cheney? Well, Cheney... and Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz and Rice... yeah. I think they are quite capable to come up with such a diabolical plan.. but, to actually carry it out and keep it under wraps? No... way too fucking arrogant.
As for the monster? Yeah. If anything, they are opportunists who took advantage of a national tragedy and used to lives of the dead to progress their political aspirations by feeding the rest of us the fear that was required to march on a long time nemesis. They continue to try to cram this fear down our throats in order to keep their view of the New World Order in tact.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
it may be because saddam paid the families of the attackers.
It may be because Sadaam was actually an alien from the planet Moo mou, in the distant galaxy alpha beta 299944, with plans for Planet wide domination of our falafel supplies. Then again, it could be that Alice in Wonderland is real and Sadaam was in fact the Queen of Hearts in disguise sent here to fuck with our Western concepts of sense, nonsense, good and evil.
Alternatively, it could be that I am an Umpa loompa and I will come and sing and dance around you and throw smarties at your windows.
Fuck it, whilst we're on a roll....It may be that Chemical Ali was actually Ali Baba and he didn't actually gas anyone at all using U.S supplied chemical weapons, but instead just said the words 'Open sesame' at the gates of Heaven and then persuaded all the Kurds to run inside with the promise that there was freedom and democracy to be found there.
Or...it may be because Bush paid the families of the attackers. :eek:
Comments
This is why I cringe when people say the majority of American's want us out of Iraq... the majority of Americans don't know enough to have an informed decision.
It's the 20% of Americans that are stupid. 80% (the vast majority) of Americans know that the September 11th attackers did NOT come from Iraq.
20% is about the same number that believe the war is going swimmingly.
Hail, Hail!!!
It's a paradox that Americans who don't give a fuck about anyone but themselves, would have an opinion that Iraq means jack shit to them.
all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
Again, while the numbers remain kind of high, they are still a minority:
41% believe Hussein was directly involved with the September 11, 2001 attacks.
20% believe the majority of hi-jackers came from Iraq.
30% believe we have discovered W.M.D.s in Iraq.
15% believe Usama bin Laden has been captured.
...
And what is President Bush's approval rating? Around 27%? Coincidence?
Hail, Hail!!!
The only one that gives that poll away is the 15% percent thinking bin laden has been caught.
It's like watching Jay Leno finding the stupidest fuckers he can find to take a stupid quiz.
The rest of it doesn't surprise me.
all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
He does that 'Jay Walking' bit in either Universal's City Walk or The Grove (a.k.a. The Farmer's Market) in West Los Angeles... both are heavily trafficed by tourists (note the places they say they are from when asked). I heard that they go through a ton of people and only show the few who give the moronic answers because most of the people give the correct answers. But, stupid people with dumb answers are a hell of a lot funnier than 'Know it all smarty pants'.
Hail, Hail!!!
Hence, this topic is 5 pages long.
all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
Look at the % of idi...er...people here think that the US gov't had a hand in it.
Bullshit. An intelligent peron, like we all are, and have been doing all this time would take the time to ask the shit you want asked. This president doesn't do this.
He stops between the shutting off the light and the monster under the bed mode.
Fuck that.
all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
I always toss out the fact that this government is too inept to pull off such a successful operation and too arrogant to keep it a secret.
Hail, Hail!!!
A little bit.
Not all.
I think the light switch and the monster under the bed is still valid.
all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
Not at all. Bush? Cheney? Well, Cheney... and Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz and Rice... yeah. I think they are quite capable to come up with such a diabolical plan.. but, to actually carry it out and keep it under wraps? No... way too fucking arrogant.
As for the monster? Yeah. If anything, they are opportunists who took advantage of a national tragedy and used to lives of the dead to progress their political aspirations by feeding the rest of us the fear that was required to march on a long time nemesis. They continue to try to cram this fear down our throats in order to keep their view of the New World Order in tact.
Hail, Hail!!!
It may be because Sadaam was actually an alien from the planet Moo mou, in the distant galaxy alpha beta 299944, with plans for Planet wide domination of our falafel supplies. Then again, it could be that Alice in Wonderland is real and Sadaam was in fact the Queen of Hearts in disguise sent here to fuck with our Western concepts of sense, nonsense, good and evil.
Alternatively, it could be that I am an Umpa loompa and I will come and sing and dance around you and throw smarties at your windows.
Fuck it, whilst we're on a roll....It may be that Chemical Ali was actually Ali Baba and he didn't actually gas anyone at all using U.S supplied chemical weapons, but instead just said the words 'Open sesame' at the gates of Heaven and then persuaded all the Kurds to run inside with the promise that there was freedom and democracy to be found there.
Or...it may be because Bush paid the families of the attackers. :eek:
Is it possible to both self-hating and self-righteous at the same time? Wouldn't that lead you to self-combust and burst into flames?
Hail, Hail!!!
Here's something to back it up - http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2007-07-02T141021Z_01_N29245801_RTRUKOC_0_US-IGNORANCE-ODD.xml
Couldn't even pass their own citizenship test, eh?
...
So, does that mean they would be deported back to America?
Hail, Hail!!!
I just did a Canadian practice test online and I scored an 81%. Sadly, when I did the American test, I scored a 93%. Damn TV.