After watching the debate today I can't believe how stupid Americans are

[still_one]

The people in this debate were elected by their constituents from their respective states. We are talking about an anti-science, anti-education, pro-war set of candidates, that are so far behind the times it makes your head spin.

What opened my eyes, but also alarmed me, is that they were actually voted in. Massachusetts, a liberal state gave us Romney? Are they even aware of his views?

There is no question that there is a difference between the Democrats and the republicans, if based on nothing else than intelligence, but that these people were even elected, reflects extremely badly on the United States

I just have to shake my head and wonder if it is already too late for the Republic?

[ladjf]

1. Something is making Americans dumb.

At this point, we are totally incapable of determining what political moves are in our best interests.

[Karenina]

12. It's the water.

[still_one]

14. see, Gore was right, we are polluting ourselves /nt

[ladjf]

16. I think both of you are making a joke. I wasn't joking.

How else can it be explained that the majority of the political moves work against the best interests of most of the people?

[still_one]

21. In what way? Are you impling that they are spiking the water?

I think the explanation is quite simple, uneducated people

[ladjf]

24. I wasn't implying anything. It just seems to me over that past

few decades, Americans are behaving as though there has been a general decline in IQ.

Why? I have no idea. However, it could well be an array of environmental and or sociological causes.

Remember that lead in the pewter cookware used by the Romans played a significant role in their decline.

We have all sorts of poisons in our environment.

Further, the precipitous rise of religious fundamentalism could be playing a role. They advocate basing life values on fabricated conclusions, void of real evidence and objective thought. That alone will ultimately guarantee failure.

The recently discovered lead in Chinese made toys is one example of insidious poisoning even though it may well have been inadvertent.

Check the stats on the national IQ. The scores are declining.

[still_one]

25. I tend to agree with your point about the precipitous rise of religious fundamentalism

but there are a lot of other factors also, and I believe that putting education as a high priority is one of them

Interesting point though

[Trillo]

31. I haven't paid attention to that,

but a reasonable argument can likely be made that we're living in a time of massive hydrocarbon, and its various derivatives, poisoning. Perhaps all the man-made radio signals and EMF emissions play a part.

I suspect nature has her ways to deal with a population bubble, even with a species that supposedly has the extra brain matter to conceive of solutions.

edit: decided to do a quick search:

In a report for T-Mobile by the Jülich Institute of May 9 2005, the experts report effects on the central nervous system, cerebral bloodflow, neuronal activity, EEG, working of the brain and cognitive function. The European Reflex study found damage to DNA, which is an confirmation of earlier research and has been confirmed afterwards.

source: http://omega.twoday.net/20050907/

Might be worth looking more closely at the EMF issue, but that site's report of a WHO directed whitewash is troubling.

[Amonester]

34. The decline of the national IQ seems to be directly related to...

the rise of... or the growing numb-er of TV channels!

[Richard D]

33. Flouride

http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2003/08/25/fluoride_and_iq.htm

[Initech]

35. Actually, I think it's the food.

High fructose corn syrup, red dye #2, "special sauce", deep fried Coke, deep fried butter dipped in pork fat with cheez whiz... if people are stupid enough to eat this shit, they're stupid enough to believe whatever politicians tell them.

[Olney Blue]

2. Exhibit A: George W. Bush. 'Nuff said.

[still_one]

6. No child left behind, my ass, we have a whole group of them left behind

If this keeps up the rest of the world will outpace us in every discipline

[Olney Blue]

8. I would submit that it already does in every discipline.

[Initech]

36. But... childrenz do lern!!!!

[Demit]

3. Apparently it's already too late, at least for Americans.

:):):)

[Bucky]

4. New rule, you must use good grammar while griping about others' stupidity

Americans, not American's. Don't do the satirists' work for them.

[still_one]

9. See, I got affected also, but after my mistake was pointed out, I corrected it

they would have told you it wasn't a mistake, and that you were wrong

[NC_Nurse]

5. Frightening, isn't it?

:scared:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. After seeing that debate

I'm all the more grateful I'm not a Republican.

[still_one]

10. What has happened to that party? /nt

[spanone]

11. i have to agree, if they were the only choices, i'd say fuck it.

[still_one]

13. There is no comparision to the Democratic line up. Sure we can disagree on their policies

but there is NOT one Democrat who would dismiss Science

[H2O Man]

15. Wow.

It is really bad. Weak is too kind a word for this debate.

[Disturbed]

17. There are around 300 Million Americans.

It isn't because a large portion of them are below average in IQ, it is that they are ignorant of politics & many of them are purposefully so. Millions can name Entertainment &/or Sports Celbs and details about the Celebs but know almost nothing about most Politicians or how the Govt. operates. That info is not important to them. Entertainment, Sports, Crime & sensational stories draw their interest, while politics does not, unless there is something salacious about it.

[H2O Man]

18. Well said.

The republican debate is unlikely to add to the average citizen's interest in or understanding of today's political realitites.

[Liberal In Texas]

20. Yes, and some actually think they're informed about politics/news by watching FNC...

...or some other cable channel. PBS is sometimes too hard, but pre-digested abridged information on Fox or CNN at the gym or while making the morning coffee makes it seem like they're keeping informed. If they're especially curious, they might even pick up a USA Today.

[sandnsea]

28. Explain talk radio

When politics is told with an interesting narrative, people pay attention. We just haven't figured out how to talk so the masses will listen.

[Bluzmann57]

19. Yep. We're all dumb asses

Oh wait, aren't you an American as well? If so, then you are saying that you are stupid too. I know I am not the smartest guy the world has ever seen, but I also know that Americans, as a whole, aren't really all that stupid. I'm just sick and tired of all the "Americans are stupid" statements made by...other Americans. Makes no sense to me. But what do I know? I'm just another stupid American.

[Hardrada]

23. I know. Do other countries indulge in this?

Ach, wir sind nur ganz dumm Deutsche!! Nous Francaises sont imbeciles!!

[Harper_is_Bush]

22. After reading your post I can't believe how stupid.....oh, nevermind.

Perhaps you should keep in mind that in the game of politics much is hidden and glossed and sold. Don't be so quick to condemn the people, and call them "stupid". I have no doubt that if we played back Ronmey's previous campaign his views that you find offensive were downplayed.

[HughMoran]

30. downplayed? How about he had COMPLETELY different views - he's a FLIP-FLOPPER

of epic proportions. I'd LOVE to see him get nominated so you all from outside Mass. could enjoy the fact that Romney is so stupid as to think that all of the issues he's flip-flopped on are not on tape multiple times. He's a willfully ignorant ass-hole.

[Purveyor]

26. The only one of the whole crop that momentarily impressed me was Ron Paul...

With his objections to our foreign policy.

Let it be noted, I think he only was allowed 3 or perhaps 4 chances to actually 'take the floor' with a question from the MSM hosts...

[sandnsea]

27. NYC gave us Giuliani and Bloomberg

People are easily manipulated. Just look at what people will buy 'as seen on tv'. Sometimes I think it would be easier conning people out of money than selling a legitimate product or service. Also why I think supporting subsidized insurance will pass sooner than single payer. It's just the nature of our brainwashed population to not pay their fair share. It's why that jury in Minnesota just convicted that person for downloading songs. Americans prefer the promise of riches over the reality of stability.

[HughMoran]

29. Funny that people elect willfully ignorant Republican lying hateful misogynist xenophobic bigots

I know these ignoramuses and at times I just want to puke at their willful ignorance.

[Stinky The Clown]

32. That's wutcha get when no democrat is 'good enough'

The Hissyfitters need to hissy, dontcha know.