Why is a culture of stupidity and ignorance encouraged in America?

Question

I am a naturalized US citizen who considered himself of average intelligence overseas. I always struggled in school and worked hard to get decent grades. Then I moved to America in the third grade and was astounded at the stupidity and ignorance of people. Here I was in this country I thought was supremely wealthy, exciting, cutting edge, among other things, and the people couldn't spell and wouldn't care about world issues. Talk about culture shock. To make things worse, they mark you as smart and write you off as an insignificant loser. I cannot imagine how people could be so anti-intellectual...there is no basic curiousity among people here.

The whole situation is depressing, honestly. Like pigs wallow in filth, Americans wallow in ignorance. Sad.

Answer 1

I agree with you, it is pathetic, and I've been an American for 40 years.

Unfortunately, an ill-informed or apathetic voter benefits both major political parties. Neither party wants to encourage their respective core voters to think beyond the party line. If they did, the cost and unpredictability of elections would skyrocket, and it would be more difficult to hold on to a constituency and stay in office.

Answer 2

As a valedictorian of a large (5000) urban high school, (gpa 4.6) I have seen and heard opinions of all of the cultural phenomena of which you speak. It is surprising that the wealthiest country also ranks highest in apathy and laziness among the general public. However, this could be perpetuated by such wealth and global esteem experienced by this nation. I was born and raised here in a modern yet traditional-values Catholic family. It takes an immense effort to become educated and remain current on the issues, global issues, domestic issues, whatever there is. Care for academic and intellectual growth is also something requiring great effort, and where affluence exists, the urgency simply is not present, and such skills are not acquired nor cultivated.

Sure, it takes a few smart, resourceful people (in the full sense of the word, including many dishonesties) to make things happen and keep up the statistics, but truly, the tip of the socio-economic pyramid is very small and there exists a large number of (undocumented) people living within the borders of this country who fall far below the poverty line.

I share in your sadness over the ignorance of the American people. How can you help to overcome it? Get into the schools, re-educate, re-motivate the young people, especially during the Sophomore and Junior years of High School. I choose this period because many teens take on the responsibilities of cars, cell phones, and credit cards during these years. also, the Sophomore "wise fool" year is a laid-back, ignorant year when students think they know it all and more, and Junior year is when they realize that they don't know a single thing and they better get moving. That is the time to seize the spirit and carry them to higher levels, placing within their grasp the ideal of cultural awareness, attention to details in skill-building, in the workplace, in the international market and affairs, and the list goes on through politics, the family, and social stability. As the revolutionaries throughout history have pointed out, there is a time when the people of a country are "ripe for a revolution" and that is the precise moment when the harvest should be taken up.

Let 'em have it! and let's shape up this world!

Sincerely,
Paul

Answer 3

It's the conveyor belt school system we have. Everyone learns the same thing, in the same way, at the same time, and when you're completed, they stamp your forehead (diploma) and send you off the line.

It's also the completely idiotic bureaucracy involved the in school system. They keep saying they "need" more money, and almost every election, we give it to them. Are the improvements ever made? Rarely. Someone already commented on the teachers union, so I'll refrain.

The sad thing is that it is working exactly as it is supposed to. From the beginning it was designed to educate the poor so they would be good workers and not question too much. The middle and upper classes had tutors or private schools, but why would you pay for private education when you could get it for "free."

Anyway, tirade over. :) By the way, your mode of expressing yourself makes you sound like the ignorant one, not to mention arrogant. I would refrain from making such generalizations.

Answer 4

Well, to begin with, you are sending out a stereotype which I, as an intelligent American, find digusting and rude.

Now that the above statement is out of the way, you - should you consider yourself so intelligent - should know that ANYWHERE you go, the majority of the people are going to be of average to below average intelligence. I mean this to include ALL the population of a country, not just a city.

Depending on where you go in the US you can run into terrible schools, or terrific schools. We rank them here. Perhaps your parents should have chosen a better area to live?

I would bring up the current political climate, but from your "question" (which was more a statement of your own skewed opinion), you have based your findings off of years gone by.

Yes, if you are smart, kids here pick on you. It's up to you to smirk, shrug it off, and continue to be intelligent because in the end, they're the asses that are going to be working for you... should you actually achieve something more in your life than berating everyone for being stupid.

Just remember. To a true, intelligent person - stereotypes are the mark of absolute ignorance.

Answer 5

The teachers in America have no incentive to do good because it's government run. If schools had competition like a business they would be great. Teachers and schools would have to do good or else parents would take their business some place else.

American Colleges like MICHIGAN are the best in the world. The reason for this is because parents pay good money to send their kids their so the college's have to be held accountable. If colleges fail it's like any other business, they go down the tubes. See how incentive works but government doesn't.

Hail to the Victors!!

Answer 6

Because the neo-con Republicans find ignorants easier to manipulate and control, which is exactly why they constantly attack the education system. They realize that if people are educated, they will find that the neo-cons don't have a leg to stand on.

Answer 7

Hi,
Your opinion could change as you come across more people.
You know what? We are so busy trying to make ends meet...pay the rent...and a host of other ever increasing bills, that we mostly forget the reason of our lives...

Answer 8

in all possibility neither. Stupidity and lack of know-how the two anticipate rational concept. for this reason, you look handling an irrational actuality seeker who's clever adequate to comprehend that mammals developed to stay interior the sea, besides as pronounced of the actuality that mammals developed to stay interior the sea.

Answer 9

You see, the teachers union has one purpose, to make more jobs and have more benifits. The U.S is 1st in spending and 15th in testing, and the teachers say they need more money. Does anybody else find this to be total bs?

Answer 10

its not some ppl just cant help themselves. all countries r diff and generally have different levels, heck even states have diff levels for each subject. I started school early and never failed a grade.