Americans are proud of our government and our way of life. But way are so many so uneducated on the issues?

Question

The reason I ask is i've been reading so many questions on how Bush sucks and how are economy is bad. But yet our economy is the best it's been in awhile. Gas prices are down and unemployment is down. Sure there are some hot button issues out there, like illigal immigration and the war on terrorism, but to be honest, how informed are we really on all the issues? Do we really want to know every piece of info? Don't we elect these people to have that kind of decision power so we don't have to?

One other point I want to make to all the Bush dissenters. We all need to realize that in this country, Bush does not have ultimate autority. We have checks and balances in place. If people want to be upset with things that are going on here, be mad at the Congressmen and Senators we elect. They are the ones with the real power and they abuse them too.

Answer 1

I understand the sentiment you are expressing but this is a multifaceted issue. Where you stand depends largely on where you sit.

Americans are proud of our government and our way of life in general, but not everyone feels this way.

What you refer to as uneducated isnt necessarily true. There are people who are deliberately misrepresenting positions of their opponents and the issues themselves. If enough people say the same thing about an issue, whether or not it's true, a certain perception is created. Americans have grown to trust what they hear from their friends, television, newspapers, and other media sources, such as the internet and radio talkshows, regardless of credibility. Some of it is simply a lie.

News programs are not like they used to be and people should be aware of that. News used to be thoroughly investigated and verified before being presented to the public to maintain personal integrety and to prevent future lawsuits for slander/libel because with presenting the news, there is a certain amount of responsibility that they bear. Laws have relaxed the pressure that was placed on those media sources so that they no longer have to be as accurate, they just put the responsibility on their sources, which they dont need to name.

Take the mine accident as an example. They said "sources claimed" and their personal liability was transferred to the people they got the story from. Most of the time they "protect" their sources so that they may continue getting information from those sources- even if there are no facts, just rumors and speculation (which in that case proved to be incorrect).

The news reporting is the same where politics are concerned and more often than not, it is a perception. If the journalist can be convinced, and things like a good personal relationship with the journalist can be an influence, then that is how it is reported. With so many people writing blogs on the internet, there is an enormous amount of pressure for the news media to get the story out first. There is no longer the luxury of time to research a story fully, and with journalists having a vested interest in politics (because they are citizens too), there is less of an inclination as well.

Politics are about perception, not fact. Take Bill Clinton's campaign promise to allow "gays" in the military as an example. Gays are not allowed in the military, just the means of finding out sexual orientation has been removed, thus by default, they can serve so long as that orientation is not revealed. Were "gays" actually allowed, this revelation would not be important. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing Clinton, simply pointing out a fact. This also illustrates how some issues are not solved, but circumvented.

No, we as a people do not need to know everything that is going on in the government. Government officials have a duty to moniter what goes out to the public to prevent wide-spread panic, anger, and unrest. Some lawmakers relaxed many of those policies to gain favor from news medias and vice versa...so, try not to blame people as being uneducated on the issues: they are often repeating what they've heard...like a rumor.

Answer 2

There are many answers to this question.
1) Many of the issues are deep and complex. We as Americans just don't take the time to study the issues. We rely on the Howard Stern's and Micheal Moore's to inform us, and even at that it's twisted and only half the info at best.
2) The media only reports what fits it's agenda. We all know the media is extremly liberal, and it's agenda is Bush bashing.
3) There is more going on that the Gov't can't tell you due to mission secrecy and National Security. This gets exploited and the admin. has to keep it's mouth shut so as to neither confirm nor deny.

We have to take it upon ourselves to become educated as to what's going on. We don't have the time nor the desire. That's why we let others do it for us. That's part of the problem and our enemies know it. They secretly slip around while America sleeps, then WHAM!!! 9/11 happens.

Answer 3

Well said.

And yes, it's unfortunate that many do not know what's going on. But I blame the highly biased liberal media.

I think most Americans are too lazy to find out the truth, so they believe everything they see & hear on TV. And since 95% of TV is liberal biased, they get a very slanted view of the issues.

But I've noticed a lot of people on this forum are very well informed. I'd almost say that 75% here know what's really going on, and that's about normal because as they said on South Park recently, 25% of Americans are retarded.

Oh, and I'm glad you pointed out the economy. Most are ignorant on this, but it's better than it's been in over 20 years, unemployment is lower than it's ever been and we never had a surplus during the Clinton era, it was a projected surplus, which is meaningless, but many are ignorant of that fact as well. I wish more people understood economics better.

Answer 4

Hats off to you for a good question and great points but the problem is that the left cannot see past the hate for Bush..,it still has to do with the election and they are still angry about it.Its strange that I believe the only one that voted against the war was Howard Dean..,the guy is a jerk but he doesnt waver to his beliefs like the others did.I think they forget that we havent..,they are so quick to point out the morons like Foley yet when you point out the same scum that has done the same if not worse..then we are digging up the past and the good excuse is Clintons not in office anymore so I guess all the screwups under that administration are null and void in their eyes.

Answer 5

Anyone that is proud of our government is either an idiot or never comes outside;now days we have only the rights that the assholes in Washington decide we should have and now a days our police have evolved into another gestapo and as far as the gas prices go,don't forget that next year is an election year,don't tell me that you've allowed them to con you one more time.mabe you should come outside with the rest of us for awhile

Answer 6

I was proud to be an American but now ashamed. just seems to be getting crapyer more taxes and wars for nothing.

Answer 7

You have got to be kidding me. While Clinton was in office, the economy was better off, we had a surplus and gas was nowhere near what it averages now. Also, if you are too blind to see the correlation between low gas prices and the midterm elections, what more can be said to you? Obviously, your head is stuck in the sand.

Answer 8

Got Spell-check?

I don't know what part of the country you have your head buried, but gas prices are still up and so is unemployment. There is no such thing as checks & balances when every segment of government is ruled by one party. Duh!