Can you believe these people are allowed to vote?

[samplegirl]

Maybe there should be an intelligence test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCkYfYa8ePI

[ixion]

1. wow...the wealth of ignorance there is astounding...

really...:wow:

[silverweb]

2. Embarrassing.

And I believe it's quite typical of average Americans.

I know someone who plays flamenco guitar and he says he has to repeatedly explain to people that "flamenco" is not a pink bird.

Fucking humiliating.

[BlueJazz]

13. Man oh Man...Tell me about it. When Our Band was playing in parts...

...of the South (Sorry, Southeners...I live in the South also)...
several times I had people come up to me and ask me:
"What is that thing you play?"

I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying: It's a Saxophone, you stupid idiot...

[Clark2008]

27. Excuse me, I'm from the South and I played the oboe.

So much for stereotypes.

I hate South-bashing. Groan.

[demosincebirth]

3. I heard a guy say that Canada was in S. America.

Its a crying shame how dumb some of us are.

[LSK]

4. OMG THIS IS HILARIOUS!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

They think Australia is Iran or France!!

Star Wars was based on a true story?!?!?!

What state is KFC from???

:rofl:

[The Straight Story]

5. Were they in red or blue states.....

Hmmmm :)

[LSK]

7. at the end its obvious they are in Texas

[Clark2008]

26. Um... try urban v. rural areas.

That's the real problem. States are all purple.

Or, didn't your intelligence quiz have that on it?

:eyes:

[BeHereNow]

6. A friend sent us this link earlier today- it is horrifying to contemplate the implications.

Basically, during the last few seconds of the clip, one can not help
but come to the conclusion that indeed-
We have the government we deserve as we, the "people."

BHN:scared: :banghead: :hide:

[Unca Jim]

8. Oh, C'mon!

I get that a lot of folks on DU honestly believe that *average* Americans are as exceptionally dumb as the knobs they found for that bit, but seriously!

There were maybe 40 different people (many of them repeated), and I'm sure they had to shoot many, many hours of footage to find that many utter knob responses. They obviously were in the South based on the scenery and speech patterns, and did you notice the propensity of old folks and poor people? All those groups know less than average about the world.

If you went downtown during the day in any major city when most people are working (which I assume they did) *in any country in the world* you would not get the cream of the crop. Seriously, let's take a crew to Brisbane and see if we can scare up similar stupidity about America and the Middle East. I bet we could.

George Bush is President because a lot of scared middle class people who ought to know better voted for him, not because we're a nation of idiots.

Well, that and the cheating... ;)

[BeHereNow]

10. Welcome to DU, but as a DUer who works in a public school, I must tell you the video is accurate.

Truly, I am sorry to break this to you, but this is a very
accurate portrayal of the American public, and furthermore,
I must tell you that the generation coming upon us makes the
subjects in this video look brilliant.
Sorry, but that is the reality.

BHN

[samplegirl]

15. They need to get their eyes

out of the sports section of the newspaper and off american idol.

[Unca Jim]

19. I'm a teacher in the public schools as well...

Yes, there are people this ignorant. No, they are not the norm. Yes, we have a more ignorant populace than other western democracies because we have no real national public school standards, but there are not as many people as incredibly stupid as the video makes out.

There are plenty of just plain undereducated folks who know a hell of a lot more about things that effect their daily lives than politics or geography.

I get that as smart people who have been mystified by how the Republic party got into power we are angry at the ignorant. But most of the ignorant people who voted for Bush did it because they were too lazy and scared and busy with daily life, not because they are so much less intelligent than everyone else.

[fujiyama]

23. Shit, some of them thought Iran was Australia

I'm sorry, but that's absolutely inexcusable.

But I agree that this has nothing to do with intelligence - just laziness, pride in ignorance, and a poor educational system that cannot even teach its citizens where on a map the countries are located that the US fought wars with over the last 50 years.

This actually frightened me and saddened me.

[Clark2008]

28. My son goes to a public school.

However, he knows where Iran, Iraq and Australia are.

He knows the capital of every state in this nation - and, in fact, has had to correct his TEACHER on some things regarding geography.

Maybe the problem isn't with the students, it's with the staff???

Just saying.

BTW, he's in second grade.

Of course, I have his little sister residing firmly in my tummy, awaiting to make her debut in June. She will be wearing this on a onesie in the birthing center:

[pampango]

29. Same thing my parents said about my generation (well, except

for the "video" part, since we didn't have those at the time.) Wouldn't be surprised that each generation throughout history has said that about the next generation. (Kind of makes me feel old when I catch myself thinking that about my son's generation.)

Just reassure me that DU'ers are not elitist and think that we are better and smarter than the average American. Either that or assure me that as elitists we have a campaign strategy to appeal to the ignorant masses, so that we may win elections and govern in the best interests of these masses.

[samplegirl]

14. They don't even know

the countries but.....Yes we should invade.

[fujiyama]

21. I'll admit

that most humans are provincial and ignorant, but I think the clip was pretty indicative of the state of education in our country.

It's incredibly sad, frustrating, frightening, and ultimately not the least bit stunning that our economic prowess and domination will be overtaken in the next 25-30 years (not to mention the military superiority as well).

[OhioChick]

9. OMG............

Now you know why asshat got more than one vote. :rofl:

[samplegirl]

16. Well he's from Texas

so he mustbeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee right!

[motocicleta]

11. Is it wrong of me to love this?

These ignorants just make me feel all warm and cuddly inside. Like we haven't been the victims of a great conspiracy, but simply of genetic error. I'm sorry, but if the world is fucked, I'd rather it come as an accident of birth than a premeditated murder.

[The Straight Story]

12. At least it makes me feel more informed than some people

Too bad there were not control questions - like based around American Idol and such :)

[samplegirl]

17. Bet they would

know who Taylor Hicks is!

:shrug:

[rumpel]

18. OMG that is in front of the Chinese Theater in Hollywood

where the tourists come to see the hands of actors etc...

Awful - who are these people.....speechless

on edit: he goes all over the country

I hope these people only vote for "Dancing with Stars"

We have to seriously rethink our voter drive.....

[fujiyama]

20. OMG!

We are so fucked as a nation.

[Nutmegger]

22. This is so effing embarrassing...

:cry:

[fujiyama]

24. It really saddens me

It saddens me to know not only how little people know about the world around them - but the lack of interest in knowing anything.

For all our politicians' talk of educating children, I have to wonder how much people WANT to be educated. Many simply don't care about anything outside of their little world.

[stevedeshazer]

25. Holy Moly

People are stupid.