American ignorance of government

Someone please help me see the bright side of this. Or tell me why it doesn't matter as much as I think it does.

Americans know literally nothing about the Constitution


DJT, our fearless leader, clearly knows nothing about the Constitution either. The dolt thought he'd be CEO of the U.S. and doesn't "get" why loyalty to him isn't appropriate, or why he isn't the "boss" of government.


* A majority (53%) believe the Constitution affords undocumented immigrants no rights. However, everyone in the US is entitled to due process of law and the right to make their case before the courts, at the least.

Scary, really.  And this is the misinformation that Republicans have used most effectively at the polls. 


How many times have we heard that prospective citizens know much more than citizens do because they have to in order to become citizens. We're a lazy stupid people, by and large - because we can be.


I wonder how this is possible when everyone goes to elementary school.  I know it is taught.


I'd be interested in a regional breakdown of these stats. 

I used to work in a HS that demanded World History, U.S. History I and II, and offered AP U.S. History, AP Euro History, and econ.



GL2 said:

DJT, our fearless leader, clearly knows nothing about the Constitution either. The dolt thought he'd be CEO of the U.S. and doesn't "get" why loyalty to him isn't appropriate, or why he isn't the "boss" of government.

Well, Mr. Obama certainly acted a lot like he wasn't very familiar with the Constitution  either.

How many times did he bypass the legislature and rule by edict on everything from Title IX, exemptions and deferrals the health care law, dear colleague letters,  DACA, etc?   I'm not offering judgments on any of these topics, as that would be a long and separate discussion, but it's not like the American people haven't been exposed to extra-constitutional rulemaking for a long time.  Prior to Obama too I'm sure.

The ignorance of the general public is inexcusable, but some confusion is certainly understandable.


Ah, yes. "Well, Obama... ."

The guy is a constitutional scholar who did what he had to do, given a Congress whose goal was to obstruct.

I couldn't be happier that these scumbags - Mitch & Co., are stuck with this wild card president for a few more months.


"Oh yeah, well Obama... ."



 

The ignorance of the general public is inexcusable, but some confusion is certainly understandable.

ice, the 3 branches of government?

Did you see where Jordan Klepper had Trump supporters signing an Impeach Hillary petition. This is the country we live in and, right now, it's Dumb leading the Dumber.


I volunteer teach civics to GED students.  The foreign born students almost always know more about the constitution ( and are much more enthusiastic about it) than the American born students.   Makes me sad. 



I blame how we teach history in this country.  We teach it as a series of facts and dates that doesn't encourage people to retain the information.  My experience was that teaching History didn't become innovative until I got to college level work (my high school AP European History teacher was awesome and made the subject fun).  And I have a BA in History.

FilmCarp said:

I wonder how this is possible when everyone goes to elementary school.  I know it is taught.



erins, that was always the complaint - memorizing dates and wars, etc. But I think things are more vivid in classes these days. Then again, if students aren't interested or engaged, it doesn't matter who or how they're taught.



erins said:

I blame how we teach history in this country.  We teach it as a series of facts and dates that doesn't encourage people to retain the information.  My experience was that teaching History didn't become innovative until I got to college level work (my high school AP European History teacher was awesome and made the subject fun).  And I have a BA in History.

FilmCarp said:

I wonder how this is possible when everyone goes to elementary school.  I know it is taught.

Actually I remember Civics being taught in junior high (7th grade)...


Heard/read? this the other day:

Old fish swims by two young fish; says "How's the water?" 

Young fish turns to the other and says "What's water?"

Immigrants know how good we've got it. That's why it's so sad to see how they've been perceived lately.



Scully said:



erins said:

I blame how we teach history in this country.  We teach it as a series of facts and dates that doesn't encourage people to retain the information.  My experience was that teaching History didn't become innovative until I got to college level work (my high school AP European History teacher was awesome and made the subject fun).  And I have a BA in History.

FilmCarp said:

I wonder how this is possible when everyone goes to elementary school.  I know it is taught.

Actually I remember Civics being taught in junior high (7th grade)...

Actually, I can make a genuine contribution here. How unusual.  I, too, have a degree in history. Just last night I went to parents night at SOMS where my son is a 6th grader and listened to his Social Studies teacher.  They have a great approach.  The kids have already written amendments they want for the Constitution.  Some were silly, and some were interesting, but it is a hands on approach to understanding the document that I applaud.


I was never taught the Constitution in elementary school.

FilmCarp said:

I wonder how this is possible when everyone goes to elementary school.  I know it is taught.



the ignorance of government goes much further than just a lack of knowledge about the constitution.  Most people do not even understand the primary functions of various elected officials.  

I would even further say many elected officials do not even understand their role in government.  


ice said:

Well, Mr. Obama certainly acted a lot like he wasn't very familiar with the Constitution  either.

How many times did he bypass the legislature and rule by edict on everything from Title IX, exemptions and deferrals the health care law, dear colleague letters,  DACA, etc?  

That sounds like one of those lists where people claim something was "unconstitutional" without ever explaining with facts.


Such is the state of education in America.

Then again, who cares what a bunch of crusty dudes wrote. Aren't we calling for their statues to come down?

Obama was a part-time lecturer at University of Chicago. He covered race and gender. He never published anything. Does he know the constitution? Undoubtedly. Most lawyers do. 

Calling him a "constitutional scholar" might be a bit of a stretch.

Before people get on me for nitpicking about his actual role at University... Hillary told me that during the 2008 primaries.



Jackson_Fusion said:

Such is the state of education in America.

Then again, who cares what a bunch of crusty dudes wrote. Aren't we calling for their statues to come down?

Obama was a part-time lecturer at University of Chicago. He covered race and gender. He never published anything. Does he know the constitution? Undoubtedly. Most lawyers do. 

Calling him a "constitutional scholar" might be a bit of a stretch.

Before people get on me for nitpicking about his actual role at University... Hillary told me that during the 2008 primaries.

Actually, it could be said that Ted Cruz who has argued nine cases before the SC, is more of a constitutional scholar than Obama.

When Cruz argued before the SC he was a completely different persona than what he shows of himself to the public as a politician. There, you can hear that he is of the legal elite, a graduate of Princeton and Harvard. Not the shucks down on the earth boy persona when pandering for votes.



Jackson_Fusion said:

Such is the state of education in America.

Then again, who cares what a bunch of crusty dudes wrote. Aren't we calling for their statues to come down?

Obama was a part-time lecturer at University of Chicago. He covered race and gender. He never published anything. Does he know the constitution? Undoubtedly. Most lawyers do. 

Calling him a "constitutional scholar" might be a bit of a stretch.

Before people get on me for nitpicking about his actual role at University... Hillary told me that during the 2008 primaries.

Davis and Lee fought to destroy the country Washington and Jefferson founded. That you can't distinguish between one "bunch of crusty dudes" and another I suppose is just further proof of the sad state of affairs in regards to Americans' knowledge of history.



PVW said:



Jackson_Fusion said:

Such is the state of education in America.

Then again, who cares what a bunch of crusty dudes wrote. Aren't we calling for their statues to come down?

Obama was a part-time lecturer at University of Chicago. He covered race and gender. He never published anything. Does he know the constitution? Undoubtedly. Most lawyers do. 

Calling him a "constitutional scholar" might be a bit of a stretch.

Before people get on me for nitpicking about his actual role at University... Hillary told me that during the 2008 primaries.

Davis and Lee fought to destroy the country Washington and Jefferson founded. That you can't distinguish between one "bunch of crusty dudes" and another I suppose is just further proof of the sad state of affairs in regards to Americans' knowledge of history.

Sure, sure!


https://www.google.com/search?q=jefferson+vandalized&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=nimv&source=lnms&tbm=nws&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjV_efFsajWAhWF7CYKHRluCX8Q_AUIESgB&biw=320&bih=460


One does not have to be a "Constitutional Scholar" to understand the basics. All anyone has to do is read the Constitution. It appears that most people are just too lazy to do so or just not interested.

A person could learn more than most people seem to know just by watching certain popular TV Shows like Designated Survivor, The West Wing or even House of Cards. At least they would learn the three branches of government.


Jackson_Fusion said:

PVW said:

Jackson_Fusion said:

Such is the state of education in America.

Then again, who cares what a bunch of crusty dudes wrote. Aren't we calling for their statues to come down?
Davis and Lee fought to destroy the country Washington and Jefferson founded. That you can't distinguish between one "bunch of crusty dudes" and another I suppose is just further proof of the sad state of affairs in regards to Americans' knowledge of history.
Sure, sure!

https://www.google.com/search?q=jefferson+vandalized&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=nimv&source=lnms&tbm=nws&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjV_efFsajWAhWF7CYKHRluCX8Q_AUIESgB&biw=320&bih=460

The link says nothing about any call for taking down a statue of Jefferson the way there are calls for removing those of Confederate generals.

Not to mention that Jefferson wasn't part of the Constitutional Convention.  


Everything I know about Washington I learned from The West Wing.

LOST said:

One does not have to be a "Constitutional Scholar" to understand the basics. All anyone has to do is read the Constitution. It appears that most people are just too lazy to do so or just not interested.

A person could learn more than most people seem to know just by watching certain popular TV Shows like Designated Survivor, The West Wing or even House of Cards. At least they would learn the three branches of government.



this:

Then again, who cares what a bunch of crusty dudes wrote. Aren't we calling for their statues to come down?

I can't even...




South_Mountaineer said:


Jackson_Fusion said:

PVW said:

Jackson_Fusion said:

Such is the state of education in America.

Then again, who cares what a bunch of crusty dudes wrote. Aren't we calling for their statues to come down?
Davis and Lee fought to destroy the country Washington and Jefferson founded. That you can't distinguish between one "bunch of crusty dudes" and another I suppose is just further proof of the sad state of affairs in regards to Americans' knowledge of history.
Sure, sure!

https://www.google.com/search?q=jefferson+vandalized&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=nimv&source=lnms&tbm=nws&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjV_efFsajWAhWF7CYKHRluCX8Q_AUIESgB&biw=320&bih=460

The link says nothing about any call for taking down a statue of Jefferson the way there are calls for removing those of Confederate generals.

Not to mention that Jefferson wasn't part of the Constitutional Convention.  

Stop.




This is scary, but perhaps he jests. 

drummerboy said:

Everything I know about Washington I learned from The West Wing.

LOST said:

One does not have to be a "Constitutional Scholar" to understand the basics. All anyone has to do is read the Constitution. It appears that most people are just too lazy to do so or just not interested.

A person could learn more than most people seem to know just by watching certain popular TV Shows like Designated Survivor, The West Wing or even House of Cards. At least they would learn the three branches of government.



What is gained if all the statues are brought down and nothing real changes? 


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