Stupid in America

I believe whole-heartedly that America is one of the greatest nations in the world. We are a nation of freedom, liberty, and power. We are a nation whose people are friendly, kind, and loving, and are not afraid to defend their American liberties. We are a nation of pride, love, as well as great, rich, and special history.
However I also feel that America has its problems. I fear that the people are often ignorant to this great, rich, and special history it has. Americans seem so ignorant to history- even to their own national history. America seems ignorant to many other areas as well. America is perhaps the richest nation in the world, but according to international tests, not the smartest. Rather, America is simply "mediocre."
Even watching Miss America, where the contestants should be some of the brightest young women in America, I feel that there is a certain amount of ignorance that the contestants have to current events. What makes it worse is the fact that they do not realize their ignorance. I do grant that some of the questions asked would have been hard to answer in any way other than one that was politically correct, but the ignorance on both the judges and the contestants could be seen. Miss Georgia said that No Child Left Behind was "very near to her heart," and from my own state, Miss Alabama, seemed to show favor towards a stronger global government in worldwide problems. Many people seem to use the logic that if there is a problem, then the government is here to fix it. This is simply not good logic, and what makes it worse, is many people look to either their emotions or to the media to tell them what the problems are.
The average American is clueless on many current issues, much of American history, or why they believe what they believe, whether it be religion, politics, etc. Many Americans do not know how the electoral college works. Many Americans do not really know the definitions of monarchy, aristocracy, democracy, republican, confederacy, etc. Many Americans simply assume that America is a Democracy, although they are not sure why. Furthermore, in all reality, America is far from a pure Democracy. Many Americans do not know much at all about the "American Civil War" or its causes behind it, and the effects of it. They simply assume it was a war fought over slavery. Many Americans do not know of any of the early compromises our founding fathers made, such as the three-fifths compromise, or any of the compromises on elections. Americans assume that all of our elections were designed to be Democratic votes by the people, but that is really not the case. Many Americans assume that our government is here to provide for us, whether it be our housing, clothing, or education. Many Americans do not know what purpose government is here for.
Even on a more serious side, many Americans do not know why they believe what they believe in regards to their religion. The typical American says what their religion is, but would be clueless when it comes to defending their faith. Many Christians don’t know the books of the Bible, the Ten Commandments, or the meaning of much of the symbolism we see in the Bible. American individualism and American emotionalism has swept through the minds of our youth, leaving many to falsely reject religion, or claim religion in a watered-down defenseless way. This is very dangerous. It has become obvious that America, whether it comes to politics, history, religion, etc., is as a nation clueless.
In perhaps his most controversial television special ever, Stupid in America, which aired on 20/20, John Stossel blames this ignorance not so much on the children or parents, but on the government and teachers unions. Stossel claims that it is sticking children in a government monopolized education, that answers primarily to politicians and teacher’s unions, is the cause for such ignorance.
Although I do not really agree with Stossel on everything, I feel that he makes many points that many Americans are scared to admit, or too ignorant to realize. Liberals consider him a right wing fraud, while conservatives consider him one of the most liberal in the liberal media. But Stossel is neither a conservative or a liberal, but rather a libertarian, a word that many Americans do not know the meaning of, not that they would know much more the real definitions of ‘‘conservative’’ and ‘‘liberal.’’ The show was politically motivated and politically incorrect, but many Americans would not hear him out. Some things Stossel stands for I do not completely agree with, but whether it be his articles, television specials, or books, he actually defends his points, and shows he knows why he believes what he believes. Many times, he is right.
Many Americans think that because there are problems in the public school system, that a higher government with more government spending would be the key. However statistics and common sense tell you that that is not the case. Our founding fathers would be devastated to see our American Government today, with the way the Federal Government has control on the free market and education.
But it must start with the people, not the government. Care about your vote, or your no vote. Care about your government, nation, and education for yourself, or if you’re a parent, for your child. It is time that we take initiative, and help make America a better nation than what it already is. It would be a shame to see this wonderful nation fall apart because of its people’s own ignorance.

Thanks you.
What do you think?
God bless America
Ryan