Average people?

Question

Who thinks that average people are idiots and should not be voting or voicing their baseless opinions on national or world affairs in the media? Why should we listen to polls that say that so many of us do not approve of this or that (i.e. Iraq war) when at the same time people know more about what you would find in People Magazine than current affairs?

I say bring back the literacy tests at the polling places. If you don't have time to inform yourself and gain a basic level of understanding on what you are voting for I guess you shouldn't have time to vote either.

Hey answergirl: Yes I do think I could pass the literacy test. Apply the below test to your state (for the Alabamba questions) and you should get 100% or at least only one or two wrong. I got a 100 but I would gladly let them give similar tests and make you get over 90% or something.
http://www.crmvet.org/info/lithome.htm


And yest I believe that Americans are not informed. You haven't seen any stories like the one I'm posting below? Somone does a poll like this every few months it seems. This one is mostly about how clueless Americans are when it comes to Britain.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,1851139,00.html

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The poll, commissioned by producers of an interactive reality game show based on pop culture, found that while 77% could name two of Snow White's seven dwarfs only 24% could identify two supreme court judges.

Hemingway: What makes you think that I'm an "average idiot". If I took the test, I could get into Mensa. I take it that you're a pseudointellectual douchebag with nothing better to do but insult people on the Internet.

I would've given you the 10 points right there for what you said in the first paragraph as your point was well taken. I not much of a betting man either, but I'd bet that you are not a very happy person.

Should I dare defend myself and let you know what I do to stay informed? I'm bored so you're in luck! For general information I take the 20 minutes to read the USA Today at work. I subscribe to The Economist and read it cover to cover. I occasionally get the Sunday NY Times but I prefer the format of a magazine wherein I don't have to flip back and forth nonstop to read everything. I skim through Google News and get my local news from the papers online. I occasionally read a book but I don't have the attention span to read them much. I'm well informed.

Answer 1

I give you a thumbs up. I am not an American.
Oh, Well, however I thought I was average until I was in an accident when I had a very serious concussion. It included a major brain bleed (internal bleeding in brain case, not grey matter leaking out) and some physical damage as well.
As a result of this I have been tested over and over again. What disturbs the neuropsychologists is not that I test Average in some areas, but that I test average in Some areas.
If I tested average overall they would conclude no real effect from the accident. I test into the top percentile in many areas and off the scale in some. The areas that I test as average they interpret as areas of brain damage.
I really never understood what average people had to deal with before. (yes barbie, math IS hard)

Do i think people voting should at least know who their local representative is? YES!!
Do I think they should know the party platforms of the major paries? YES!!!
Should they be able to read and write or at least tie their own shoe laces? YES!!!
Is it ever going to happen.
I doubt it.
If you did that politicians would actually need to present viable policies.

Answer 2

What makes you think that "average" people are idiots and less informed about political issues than members of Mensa? Intellect has nothing to do with prudent decisions or informed voting. A high IQ does not guarantee political awareness. Have you ever heard the term "educated idiot"?

The world is overrun with highly intellectual people who are clueless. In fact, I'm not a betting man, but would wager a fair amount of money that you're one of them. On second thought, it's more likely that you're an average idiot.

Answer 3

First, I don't believe the average American fits your description. Most of us are very informed and I consider myself quite average. I don't read People Magazine, but can't see that reading it would disallow knowledge in other areas of life. Are you so sure you could pass the literacy test? Be careful what you wish for.

Answer 4

Let me guess. You consider yourself above average. It's amazing. Everybody in the country considers themselves above average. I wonder how they work the math on that one?
Perhaps there are no people of average intelligence. I guess everybody is either below average or above average. That math works.

Answer 5

No such tests exist for president, why would we hold the voters to higher standards?

Answer 6

How about we get candidates to state what they will do with their office rather than just bashing each other?

Answer 7

Now, are you trying to disenfranchize all the Republican?