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Think of how dumb the average American is (Original Post) Pototan May 2 OP
I am not. Arne May 2 #1
The math also says Pototan May 2 #5
Are you suggesting dumb Tickle May 3 #29
No. I'm suggesting that dumb voters Pototan May 3 #34
They might be smarter than you think. David__77 May 2 #2
And, they also may be dumber than you think. The dumber they are, the dumber they think you are. ;) Chainfire May 2 #4
In general, I think people are underestimated. David__77 May 2 #9
Uh huh..Let's all hear it for whathehell May 2 #14
Over 70 Million Americans voted for Trump Pototan May 2 #19
and in a nation of 320 Plus Million, that makes whathehell May 3 #21
It was 46% of the vote Pototan May 3 #27
Yes, a minority... whathehell May 4 #45
A Little Trickier Than That ProfessorGAC May 2 #3
Winton Churchill Pototan May 2 #6
Hardly My Point ProfessorGAC May 2 #8
It can be true SarahD May 2 #10
Of course, you are technically correct Pototan May 2 #16
I believe you're thinking of "median", not "mean". sl8 May 3 #30
I believe you are correct Pototan May 3 #31
I was editing my post while you were posting. sl8 May 3 #32
Um, and as you may have noted, he wasn't American whathehell May 2 #15
He mentioned Democracy Pototan May 2 #17
and you mentioned Americans whathehell May 3 #23
"Average Voter" by Churchill Pototan May 3 #28
According to whom? whathehell May 4 #42
I've had 50 posts on different subjects since this one Pototan May 4 #43
Lol...If that's the best you can do whathehell May 4 #44
An even higher authority Beastly Boy May 3 #20
Sure.. whathehell May 3 #22
why tho WhiskeyGrinder May 2 #7
Yep, many don't know sh_t about civics or history. MTG is a perfect example... brush May 2 #11
The average American is no "dumber" than whathehell May 2 #12
Agreed Pototan May 2 #18
..and it's why the wiser choice would be whathehell May 3 #25
I'm only worried about America at the present time Pototan May 3 #26
The real quesion is are Americans becoming more likely to accept the "Big Lie?" Chainfire May 3 #41
This is reminiscent of one of Zeno's (circa 450bc) paradoxes. Ping Tung May 2 #13
An informative article about American intelligence distribution werdna May 3 #24
What's the point? betsuni May 3 #33
I think the OP is implying that real Americans love Trump Bucky May 3 #39
Thank you, George Carlin. niyad May 3 #35
I present Exhibit One: My sister no_hypocrisy May 3 #36
The average American didn't vote for Trump Bucky May 3 #38
Voters rejected Trump by 3 million votes, and then by 7 million. Bucky May 3 #37
intelligence wasn't a matter of black and white, but rather a colorful spectrum Tickle May 3 #40

Pototan

(1,266 posts)
5. The math also says
Thu May 2, 2024, 08:44 PM
May 2

that half of Americans are smarter than average. A lot smarter. I have observed that DUers are in the upper half. Maybe far higher than that.

The problem is every American gets a vote, regardless of their ability to express critical thinking.

Pototan

(1,266 posts)
34. No. I'm suggesting that dumb voters
Fri May 3, 2024, 04:51 AM
May 3

could help end our Democracy and should be challenged for being misinformed and uninformed voters. It's our obligation to reach out and get the facts to them. But failing this, I have already executed an exit plan. I don't want to live all year in a country where 46% of voters think Trump should be president, even if he loses. 2 weeks is enough. But that's my choice.

Democracies require well informed voters. History is replete with countries who fell victim to democratically elected dictators. A guy named Hitler comes to mind. And I believe Putin started out this way.

As I said in an earlier reply, I'm just making an objective observation.

Pototan

(1,266 posts)
19. Over 70 Million Americans voted for Trump
Thu May 2, 2024, 10:39 PM
May 2

and he is a viable candidate for President again. My OP is not self-hate; It's an objective observation.

whathehell

(29,138 posts)
21. and in a nation of 320 Plus Million, that makes
Fri May 3, 2024, 01:10 AM
May 3

them a distinct Minority, losing the Popular Vote in both elections, in addition to the Electoral one of 2020.

One bad leader hardly justifies the belittling of an an entire nation, especially in lieu of points of comparison -- No "objective observation" rendered.

Pototan

(1,266 posts)
27. It was 46% of the vote
Fri May 3, 2024, 03:09 AM
May 3

Last edited Fri May 3, 2024, 04:03 AM - Edit history (2)

all voting age adults who failed to vote are as much to blame.

"All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

Link to more evidence:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intersections/202206/scary-polls-americans-belief-in-things-without-evidence

KEY POINTS
*As confidence in science continues to plummet, belief in ideas without any evidence soars.

*Polls on a variety topics reveal that some Americans aren't sure about basic facts, such as whether the world is round.

*Educational attainment and political affiliation are contributing factors to subscription to specific conspiracy theories.

whathehell

(29,138 posts)
45. Yes, a minority...
Sat May 4, 2024, 08:55 PM
May 4

A large minority, but given the unprecedented number of election "irregularities", i.e.Russian interference, 'Hillary's emails', that shouldn't be too surprising nor automatically attributed to voter's intelligence or educational level.

ProfessorGAC

(65,691 posts)
3. A Little Trickier Than That
Thu May 2, 2024, 08:42 PM
May 2

There is hardly any difference in acuity, grasp & practical solving for any IQ ± 10. The sigma is 15, as well.
So the math isn't as clean, since an IQ of 95 & 100 are, for all practical purposes.
So for that vast group from 85-115, the "half" thing is a little squishy.

Pototan

(1,266 posts)
6. Winton Churchill
Thu May 2, 2024, 08:47 PM
May 2

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter". - Winston Churchill British - Statesman November 30, 1874 - January 24, 1965

ProfessorGAC

(65,691 posts)
8. Hardly My Point
Thu May 2, 2024, 08:52 PM
May 2

Your OP stated that your statement is a mathematical fact. I disagree.
Not sure how Churchill's opinion is relevant to whether something is mathematically valid or not.

Pototan

(1,266 posts)
16. Of course, you are technically correct
Thu May 2, 2024, 10:17 PM
May 2

In order for half to be dumber and half to be smarter, it would have to be the "mean American". But the word "mean" has more than one meaning and I took poetic license to use "average" to make my point.

As for Churchill, he mentioned Democracy in his quote without regard to nationality. It fits here and there.

sl8

(14,277 posts)
30. I believe you're thinking of "median", not "mean".
Fri May 3, 2024, 04:36 AM
May 3

Mean would be the average, median is the point where half the sample is above and half the sample is below.

On edit:
Although, I think if you substitute "IQ" for "intelligence", your statement would be correct , due to how IQ is measured. Don't quote me on that.

Pototan

(1,266 posts)
31. I believe you are correct
Fri May 3, 2024, 04:43 AM
May 3

Mean and Average are the same thing. Median is the point where half are higher, and half are lower.

Thank you

sl8

(14,277 posts)
32. I was editing my post while you were posting.
Fri May 3, 2024, 04:45 AM
May 3

I think if you substitute "IQ" for "intelligence", your statement would be correct, due to how IQ is measured. I'm not sure about that, though.

Pototan

(1,266 posts)
17. He mentioned Democracy
Thu May 2, 2024, 10:19 PM
May 2

without regard to nationality. The quote fits here and there (Trump here; Brexit there).

Pototan

(1,266 posts)
28. "Average Voter" by Churchill
Fri May 3, 2024, 03:20 AM
May 3

means all democracies, including America. I'm an American. I have a right to criticize my own country, both morally and legally.

I have much less moral authority to criticize a foreign country.

whathehell

(29,138 posts)
42. According to whom?
Sat May 4, 2024, 04:25 PM
May 4

You?..Sorry, but unless you can provide some documented source that supports that interpretation of Churchhill's words, you are, again, simply speculating.

P.S. I thought you might be interested
in the fact of there being some uncertainty as to whether Churchill actually ever made this remark.

hthttps://winstonchurchill.org/publications/finest-hour/finest-hour-141/red-herrings-famous-quotes-churchill-never-said/









brush

(54,139 posts)
11. Yep, many don't know sh_t about civics or history. MTG is a perfect example...
Thu May 2, 2024, 09:05 PM
May 2

as she's known for spewing Russian talking points on the floor of the House. Any knowledge of history would tell her that Russia has long been one of our most staunch enemies, and a foe of cemocracies world wide.

whathehell

(29,138 posts)
12. The average American is no "dumber" than
Thu May 2, 2024, 09:08 PM
May 2

than the average German, Brit, Belgian, Anyone..Those believing otherwise are people desperately needing to get out more.


Pototan

(1,266 posts)
18. Agreed
Thu May 2, 2024, 10:35 PM
May 2

That's why Italy had a Mussolini, France a Napolean, Spain had a Franco and Germany a Hitler.

And America has Donald Trump.

whathehell

(29,138 posts)
25. ..and it's why the wiser choice would be
Fri May 3, 2024, 01:35 AM
May 3

to say "average person" rather than stipulate a nationality, i.e., "average' American", "average German", etc. "

Pototan

(1,266 posts)
26. I'm only worried about America at the present time
Fri May 3, 2024, 01:59 AM
May 3

There is no Trump equivalent in England or Germany, and I can't vote there.

 

Chainfire

(17,757 posts)
41. The real quesion is are Americans becoming more likely to accept the "Big Lie?"
Fri May 3, 2024, 09:24 AM
May 3

If so, why? Is it a failure to educate our children properly? Is our population declining in our ability to distinguish fact from fiction or is our problem that we give equal value to fact and fiction, truth and lie? In making decisions are emotions as important as facts? Are we to face a new Dark Age? Is that a normal progression in human development? Light to darkness, darkness to light?

The only thing that we can do is face down problems as they arise. My honest belief that the most pressing problem that we are facing today is selecting who is going to "lead" our nation for the next four years. If we blow this decision, we may not get the fair chance to decide for a long time; it is something that we have control over.

If we don't pull out all of the stops, if we screw up the coming election, it will be our own damn fault and we will pay for our failure.

Ping Tung

(868 posts)
13. This is reminiscent of one of Zeno's (circa 450bc) paradoxes.
Thu May 2, 2024, 09:17 PM
May 2
Dichotomy paradox
The dichotomy

That which is in locomotion must arrive at the half-way stage before it arrives at the goal.

Suppose Atalanta wishes to walk to the end of a path. Before she can get there, she must get halfway there. Before she can get halfway there, she must get a quarter of the way there. Before traveling a quarter, she must travel one-eighth; before an eighth, one-sixteenth; and so on.

Bucky

(54,162 posts)
39. I think the OP is implying that real Americans love Trump
Fri May 3, 2024, 07:37 AM
May 3

and ignoring evidence to the contrary.

It's the old fallacy that the loudest voice is the most representative.

no_hypocrisy

(46,452 posts)
36. I present Exhibit One: My sister
Fri May 3, 2024, 07:30 AM
May 3

In 2016, she stated "I'm not voting for Trump. He scares me."

Two months later, (without irony), she stated, "I'm not voting for Hillary. She scares me."

Fortunately, she lives in NY, and her vote didn't make an impact. Although Trump did win the electoral votes.

Tickle

(2,644 posts)
40. intelligence wasn't a matter of black and white, but rather a colorful spectrum
Fri May 3, 2024, 07:48 AM
May 3

Once upon a time in a bustling city, there were two neighbors, each with contrasting perspectives on intelligence.

On one side of the street lived Mr. Thompson, a well-dressed man who held multiple degrees from prestigious universities. He believed intelligence was measured by academic achievements and eloquent speech. He often judged others based on their educational background and social status.

Across the street lived Mr. Johnson, the owner of a thriving air conditioning and refrigeration business. Despite barely graduating high school, Mr. Johnson was remarkably successful, earning a comfortable income of $150,000 annually. He believed intelligence was about practical skills and common sense rather than formal education.

One day, as they crossed paths at the neighborhood block party, Mr. Thompson remarked to Mr. Johnson, "I can't fathom how someone without a college degree can be successful. It's clear to me that education is the key to intelligence."

Mr. Johnson chuckled and replied, "Well, Mr. Thompson, intelligence comes in many forms. While you value academic accolades, I value real-world experience and problem-solving skills. Look at my business—it's thriving because of my practical intelligence, not my diplomas."

Mr. Thompson raised an eyebrow skeptically. "But surely, education opens doors and provides opportunities that you wouldn't have otherwise."

"Perhaps," Mr. Johnson conceded, "but intelligence isn't solely defined by degrees on a wall. It's about making smart decisions, adapting to challenges, and achieving success on your own terms."

As the conversation continued, Mr. Thompson began to realize that intelligence was indeed multifaceted. While he excelled in academic pursuits, Mr. Johnson possessed a different kind of intelligence—one born out of resilience, innovation, and practicality.

In the end, they agreed that intelligence wasn't a matter of black and white, but rather a colorful spectrum encompassing various abilities and talents. And as they toasted to their newfound understanding, they celebrated the richness of diversity in intelligence that surrounded them in their vibrant neighborhood.



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