On a scale from 1 to 10, how clueless do you think Americans are about the government and the way its ran?

Question

1 meaning totally clueless
10 meaning well informed

Answer 1

Great question! I don't think we can actually give an exact number that's accurate.... But, in my opinion, most people are either clueless, complacent, or both. I'm not stereotyping, as the state of things would be much different if more people were aware of the facts and cared.

A few examples-

How many people know that Bill Clinton gave the okay to bomb the al-Shifa pharmaceutical plant in Khartoum, Sudan, killing at least 20 Sudanese citizens? His primary justification was that a soil sample containing a substance called EMPTA, collected near the pharmaceutical plant, was proof that this plant made chemical weapons. Likewise, he said that EMPTA has no commercial use and is only used in the production of chemical weapons. However, the Aldrich Chemical Co. in Milwaukee produces EMPTA. Also- The other justification for the attack was the claim that Bin Laden financed the plant. BUT some U.S. officials admit that Bin Laden did NOT finance the pharmaceutical plant.

How many people know that the United States assisted the Saudis in a giant military buildup of airfields, ports, and bases throughout the 1980's? Many of the contracts were awarded to the Saudi Binladen Group (the largest construction company in Saudi Arabia) which was founded by Osama bin Laden’s father.

How many people know that the C.I.A. funded Osama bin Laden's importation of engineers and equipment from his father’s Saudi construction company for the purpose of building tunnels for guerrilla training centers and arms dumps near the Pakistan border? After the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan, the C.I.A. and Pakistani Intelligence Agency sponsored the Taliban (a government composed of the fanatic Wahhabi Islamic sect, the same sect that is the state religion in Saudi Arabia).

How many people know that Salem bin Laden (Osama’s brother) has conducted all his American affairs through James Bath (a Houston ally/friend of the Bush family)? Bill White (Bath’s former business partner) testified in court that Bath had been a liaison for the C.I.A. In 1979, Bath invested $50,000 in Arbusto (George W. Bush’s first business venture). According to rumors, Bath was acting as Salem bin Laden’s representative. Bush once denied ever knowing Bath but then acknowledged his investment in Arbusto and that he was aware Bath represented Saudi interests.

How many people know that Bill Clinton endangered U.S. national security by selling what had been highly classified technology to Beijing?

How many people know that, on Sept. 10, 2001 (just one day before the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon), a civil suit was filed in a Washington, D.C., federal court, charging Henry Kissinger with murder? Unaware of Kissinger's history? Read a little about him here- http://www.thenation.com/blogs/capitalgames?pid=176
Coincidence? I think not.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

3

Answer 5

About a three. Does it matter though. Even when we are enlightened of the wrongdoings of our government, we remain idle. No one does anything. The question should be: What can we do to turn this into what it 's supposed to be - OF THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE?! And WHEN are we going to do something about it. Just think if everyone boycotted a particular business for a day, or a week? Just outright stop purchasing from some designated bad business. You know that would make a big impact and probably get that business to shape up or close down. We could be real powerful that way.

Answer 6

It's a much higher number than I'm entirely comfortable with. I would say if "1" is very knowledgeable and "10" is extremely clueless, the average American is probably somewhere around a five or six, which is disgraceful.

In this day and age, with most Americans having access to the internet, anyone who doesn't educate him-or-herself on the way his or her government is run CHOOSES to be ignorant, which is a far greater crime than ignorance itself.

Answer 7

I say 1, a good majority probably can't even name the 3 branches. After that, many can't name the first 10 rights listed on the Bill of Rights, most aren't familiar with local and federal laws, and the candidates are constantly putting out spin to influence their perception, regardless of their actions and intentions.

Answer 8

I'll give people a pretty dismal 2. I imagine most people couldn't name half of the Bill of Rights, tell you who their congressman is, or name more than two Supreme Court justices. Who wins "American Idol" seems more important than who wins elections to most people.

Besides, if people had a clue, they'd demand better leaders and wouldn't keep voting for the clowns they do. Our last two presidents have been a joke ... we haven't had a good one since Reagan. And even he had his faults, but I'd take him over what we've got any day.

Answer 9

My 1st response is 5.

Most people know we have a President, VP, Senate and House, Supreme Court and 50 states with Governors. And they have heard this thing called elections.

Answer 10

I would say although for the most part they know exactly what's going on and choose to just go with the flow so as to not rock the boat and thereby keeping it familiarly comfortable.