The trouble with America?

[chickenscratching]

Aloha, I've been spouting out a bit in relations to America's education, or lack there of.
Lately, my animosity toward certain political parties and their illogical behavior has turned toward a different light.
Just a few days ago I was having a conversation with my father in regards to Terri Schiavo (he is a conservative, will only listen to right wing pundits). I mentioned the fact that her cerebral cortex has atrophied, and he then replied "this is the first time I've heard that".
:wtf:
even worse, yesterday on the Patriot station, the pundit Michael Medved stated some statistic that basically said that when a boy is molested, it's a 75% chance that he was molested by a homosexual. WHAT????? No WONDER people don't have all the facts when we allow people to say this shit! I wonder how many people, upon hearing that comment, not only did not stop to question the statistic, but automatically believed it to be true?
Ok, so why are we allowing pundits of any political stature to get away with this shit? Of course we breed stupid Americans when all we provide is propaganda and false facts.
Number one, where has the logic gone? Why have we stopped questioning what we hear? Why does one assume when Lush Rimjob states something that it must be accurate?
Again, where has all the logic gone?
I have said before, i wish it was hip to know things.
So, how do we approach this subject of disillusionment and illogical thought?
When will the 2nd Enlightenment begin?
Any thoughts?

On edit: SPELL CHECK! (whew, didn't want to have poor spelling in a thread about edumacation)

[Tux]

1. We're screwed

A stupid, uneducated population is easily controled so they will vote Republician, buy crap they don't need, and won't question anything.

We need critical thought courses starting in kindergarden or have parents teach thier kids that. Only then can Americans be Americans again instead of mental slaves.

[chickenscratching]

2. exactly

so how do we go about changing this?
how do we create an inner push for truth and knowledge within our souls?
how does one understand how empowering knowledge can be?

[Bellamia]

4. Parents teaching critical thinking

would certainly be ideal, but you can't teach something you know nothing about! IMO people don't question something, no matter how stupid and illogical, if it corresponds with their view. It has been said we learn by doing (Jung); so let's hope that by having done all the wrong things, some people will wise up. Don't hold your breath!;>)

[FloridaPat]

3. Newspapers, radio, and TV have always been that way. People look

to them for news and information to base decisions on. Today there is just too much and people still think you get more or less the truth on everything. I tell my friends that news programs - even CNN - are government propaganda stations. I am laughed at. There are just too many lies put out constantly. Getting facts on TV is hard. Actually look at a news show. Half of it is ads. A lot of the news is reporting then showing pictures and then asking people in the area what happened or what their opinions are. You get about 5 minutes of news. What can you learn in 5 minutes?

Why are we allowing them to get away with this? First Amendment. Then you need someone to rebut what they say. So you need someone to listen to the crap, look up the facts, and then air them. Probably a big lag time. If you hear this crap, you effected now. If you hear the rebuttal tomarrow or next week, you probably aren't even going to remember you heard the original one!

To get informed, you have to spend hours a day looking up stuff. When I have the time, it takes me about 3-4 hours cruising the internet and different sites like DU to stay "informed". And I don't get any local news or state news. Just national and world. It would be impossible to do this if I was working or had kids to take care of.

The answer - put quality in news casts. Too expensive. Force everyone to get their news from the internet. But not everyone is connected.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. That is the lesson the right learned with early talk radio.

That they can say anything through a mic, and with no debate or discussion, no one there to say "That's not true", they can get away with it.

Now they've moved on and are doing it on TV.

It's not a matter of logic -- anything can sound logical if you control the dispensation of the facts.

[chickenscratching]

6. but if we had logic

one could question what one hears despite how true or logical it may appear.
there's just not critical thinking skills.
sigh. you're right, it's not hard to fool anybody these days-as long as you can yell and sport a decent amount of confidnce you can go far regardless of your truthfulness.