the collective wisdom of the american electorate

[cali]

wouldn't fill Thumbelina's thimble.

Yeah, the MSM sucks. We don't educate people to participate knowledgeably in the political process, blah, blah, blah. And that's all true.

I still think that the American electorate blows. Even before the idolization of poltics, Americans had a deep distrust and dislike of intellectuals. Look at how they reacted to Adlai Stevenson.

Politicians paint the voter in glowing terms- they have too. I see the same thing here quite a bit.

I think the American electorate sucks.

[JuniperLea]

1. "deep distrust and dislike of intellectuals"

I overheard a conversation between high school students recently, and they were wailing about a mutual friend being "labeled" as "the smart kid." If you're smart, you can't be cool, cute, etc.

The dumbing down has taken root... it's like goddamn kudzu!

If you aren't American Idol material, no one will vote for you.

[anonymous171]

6. Intellectuals aren't particularly praiseworthy

Like businessmen, they should be considered worthless until they do something good for the community.

[JuniperLea]

7. How the hell can they do that without being elected...

Thereby being allowed to do so?

I think you miss the point. There are plenty of highly intelligent people out there running for office, but they aren't endowed with charisma and won't ever be elected to a position where they can do something good for the community.

[anonymous171]

8. You can do good for the community without being elected

Just look at Noam Chomsky.

[JuniperLea]

9. If we don't put a higher value on intelligence and education...

People like Noam Chomsky will never have a chance to help society either... who would read him?

[renegade000]

10. right, scientists have really just been lazing about all these years...

:eyes:

[Alias Dictus Tyrant]

2. Meh, *humans* suck. Americans aren't special. n/t

[Solomon]

5. Exactly. If us Americans could only just pull our heads

out of our asses and join the rest of the human race, we would be able to heal.

[leftstreet]

3. Half the country is smart enough not to vote

:-)

Glass half-full kinda thing

[anonymous171]

4. They elected FDR, JFK, and even Jimmy Carter.

I think the democrats' political strategy blows