What worries me is not only do people in general seem to be less well educated, there seems to be a subset that seem to celebrate their ignorance and are *deeply* suspicious of anyone who seems to know more than them.
This 100%. I'm not active in my birth Christian denomination for this reason. For far too many American Christians, they view their ignorance as a virtue. To them, it's a testament to their faith in God. And anyone who threatens the worldview informed by that ignorance is a heretic threat to Godly virtue. I was basically driven out of my church. Religion is invigorating this idolization of ignorance, more than most Americans want to admit. And mind you, I'm writing this in New York City. I can only imagine what's happening in other parts of the US.
i think almost anyone would agree with that statement if asked, but many have no idea what "critical thinking" is. to some, "government bad" and "triggering libs" are the only guiding principles 😔
"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge." ~Isaac Asimov
@@JanMorsø No, but I wish it was. Imagine being paid over a million dollars with campaign donations just to shake your backside for a few seconds. What a deal.
..and educated but evil people who foster and enforce ignorance in the masses for their own despicable selfish ends. The demagogues of our times -the farages, the trumps and the musks.
Actually, it's been happening for a lot longer than that, probably since the 1960s when education wasn't all that great. It left me with such a math phobia that even to this day my palms sweat at the mere thought of doing math.
I'm a high school English teacher of 26 years. I also have a degree in philosophy. I have been teaching students logic, critical thinking, and media literacy for over two decades. But the Republicans in my statehouse continue to defund our public schools, and now I have about 50 more students per day than I did at the beginning of my career. No matter how good a teacher I am, I can't teach these skills as effectively as before. This is how Republicans undermine the education of our citizens.
It is not just the republicans sweetie, BOTH wings of the evil bird have set this country up to FAIL. Dont let them divide us!!! We are of 1 peoples!!!!
WHY are the Republicans defunding the public schools? What's the reasoning behind it? Edit: a lot of people think it's funny to answer with the silliest of answers. They don't know the situation, but just want to insult people from 'the other' party. THAT IS what is wrong with the US. You love to throw dirt on each other, where ever you find it. No matter that you look terrible yourselves then too. Lets call it the Divided States of America, since you seem pretty much at 'war' with each other and can't stand fellow Americans. It's sad to watch from the outside. I've lost so much of my appreciation for your country, simply by corresponding with the lot of you. Always out to manipulate, twist things, falsely accuse, belittle. Yikes, yikes, yikes. Destroying your strength from within.
@@gardenjoy5223 The bosses see tax money as profits which could be in their pockets. The Democrats are no different they only seek votes for phony promises. Obama's and Clinton's children also went to private school.
I watched interviews from all sides during the election. I tried to engage with Trump voters online. I had a few random encounters with strangers, where the price of goods was discussed. These were my conclusions about Trump voters. 1. People mostly ignored COVID ‘s impact on the global economy. Prices lower under Trump fueled many fond memories. 2. They don’t dig in and understand the complexities of many issues or policies. Economics, social justice, immigration, civil rights were not issues they could intelligently discuss. 3. It was all about me and mine. No concern beyond their front door. 4. Harris was all word salad but Trump is strong and confident. As long as he crushed the opposition, they were happy. 5. They were tired of democracy because it is too slow and just wanted someone to fix it (whatever their problem is) now. That’s why they don’t care how crude, rude and criminal Trump is, they just want him to wave the magic Trump wand and all will be well. On the whole, people are less educated (whether self taught or schooled) because the US does not value its average citizens. We value wealth, celebrity and power. Plus if the rich and powerful business interests can keep the masses riled up and uninformed, it’s just easier for them to control their profits. That usually works for a while until the anarchists decide to burn it all down. A ten-minute read of world history will tell you where we’re headed. The question is how fast we get there.
DITTO. Brilliant observation. I concur. American education is poor. I had a British one in Kenya, and when I came to America to attend college, I was moved to 2nd year. I sent my own daughter to private schools. I am sad for US_All.
Don't engage....they wish to report you in the hopes of getting you banned....I have had to reword that message several times....mid comment the you to the tube would start glitching and I recd notice that I had been reported....block redhatters on all social media....
I’m a retired lawyer. I grew up in a working class neighborhood in the 50’s. Average reading ability of adults was 6th grade. They were very astute and had more common sense than many current elites who live in their bubble of prosperity. What was interesting is that these non college educated voters unconsciously assumed that newspaper journalists, TV news anchors and opinion show ‘experts’ knew more than they did and that they would not blatantly lie in a public forum. The level of harm done by the blatant distortion and/or misinformation by ‘entertainment’ shows like Fox News as well as the corporate control of news media in general has been catastrophic. Facts are no longer important, just opinion. This has allowed a consummate liar to pose as an honest candidate. Once the ‘News’ became monetized, democracy was in dire trouble. Add in the decimation of the purchasing power of the working/middle class and you get middle finger politics. Prosperous Progressives loved DEI, but were oblivious to the increasing desperation of the paycheck to paycheck worker. Democracy becomes a casualty of rampant disinformation and the worst inequality since the Gilded Age. BTW - I forgot how to multiply decimals 20 years ago.
This is the best comment I've read. Yes, corporate media is reaping what they sowed, and the Internet has taken the old fashioned means of information and turned it into a soapbox for everyone. The ignorant and ill informed have a platform. This is the era of ego, it seems to drive everything, critical thinking be damned. BTW, I was never good at math, never had an interest in it, although I am a retired teacher.
I had to explain to my younger engineer cousin that the Fox News thuggernaut was primed and prepared here in Australia, where it s Murdoch or Fairfax and in Queensland it's all Rupert, including local papers. There is nothing more disgusting then viewing some of the ideas propounded as news.
My dad is not a smart man. Probably reads at a 5th grade level, and does it slowly. But he knows clear as day how awful Trump is as a human being, and how dangerous he is for the country. It's a simple matter of recognizing a good guy from a bad guy. And that's what I had hoped the majority of the country could do
Yes, there is lack of awareness of the challenges others face. My country Switzerland for example provides a striking example of how a welfare state can operate successfully, blending high levels of prosperity with effective support for those in need. The country boasts a robust economy with low inflation, high salaries, and a strong social safety net. Notably, homelessness is extremely low, and crime rates are minimal, which speaks to the effectiveness of social policies aimed at promoting both individual and collective well-being. One of the most impressive aspects of Switzerland’s system is its commitment to social equality. The minimum income of 2,000 Swiss francs ensures that even those in vulnerable positions have access to basic financial security, preventing extreme poverty. Moreover, the system provides extensive support to individuals who face mental or physical illness, enabling early retirement or assistance in transitioning to new jobs. This holistic approach exemplifies the idea that wealth and social welfare are not mutually exclusive but can coexist to create a more balanced, humane society. Switzerland’s success lies in its recognition that a prosperous society can both cultivate economic growth and ensure that no one is left behind. The focus is on inclusive progress, which benefits everyone, rich and poor alike, by creating opportunities for all to thrive. This demonstrates that it is possible to maintain a high standard of living for the affluent, while simultaneously providing meaningful support to those facing hardship. It is a model of how a well-balanced welfare state can function in a capitalist society, promoting equity without sacrificing economic vitality. Americans could learn a lot from us. No sane Swiss person would want to immigrate to the USA.
With respect - a little pushback on this. I have heard ceaselessly the comment, "We don't teach civics in our schools - that is the problem." Best response I have heard (not mine) was asked to me, "Did you take any foreign language classes in high school?" I replied "Yes - two years of French." Next question was, "Do you know the words to the 'Pledge of Allegiance'?" After saying 'Yes' I was asked to "Translate the Pledge in French to me right now, please." Of course, I could not. When asked why, it was because I didn't speak or write French since high school. Here lies the problem - it is cultural. Whenever I travel overseas and people find out I am an American, I am repeatedly asked about American politics and policies. Back home, the two subjects we never talk about in polite company are politics and religion. The problem is not educational - it is cultural. We do not discuss what we learned after leaving school because it is a cultural norm in America. Hence, all those lessons are quickly forgotten by the disengaged or those not in those fields.
They most likely had the educational opportunities but just couldn’t be bothered. The UK is full of the same educational underclass. They not only hold themselves backwards but also the country’s economic growth. So many people are just disconnected. Socialists are probably too nervous to put this sector under the microscope to find out what’s happening in their backgrounds, at the fear of being called exceptional.
Dirty diaper donOLD is NOT my President! He is a malignant Narcissist, racist, mysogynistic totally unfit asshole who is responsible for thousand of deaths from Coivid, by lying. How can people miss that?
Non-Americans have no difficulty seeing what's wrong with America. I'm sure quite a few Americans can too. I'm not writing an essay, but it runs pretty much to the core of your societal beliefs and how your society operates. Not easy to change, close to impossible in fact.
A&W tried to introduce a 1\3 pound burger to compete with McDonald's 1\4 pounder. It failed because 3 is smaller than 4 so most people thought it was a smaller burger.
“Governments don't want a population capable of critical thinking, they want obedient workers, people just smart enough to run the machines and just dumb enough to passively accept their situation.” ― George Carlin
In my experience, people that didn't learn basic math, language arts, science, etc. skills when they were young, become adults that attempt to hide their ignorance with bravado and BS. They lack the confidence to admit that they don't understand.
That's how you get people like Elon Musk. Someone who is too stupid to understand how dumb they sound will always be more convincing than a genius who recognizes the flaws in even the best plans
@leetommerson639 Elon Musk is an unintelligent man. He was pushed out of PayPal because of his sheer incompetence. His companies function better the further from them he is. He would probably be fine as a cashier or maybe even an electrician, but he is a fundamentally incurious person. He watches sci-fi movies then claims he can make them real because he doesn't understand how difficult that would be, and he's too stupid to bother to learn.
@@leetommerson639Elon Musk isn't classically dumb...he is on the autism spectrum & struggles with social interaction along with narcissism and a BIGLY ego
I agree in large part but the mathematical ability of a person or group of people as a barometer for their cultural / media literacy is incredibly stupid. These are completely different parts of the brain. I have friends with political science degrees who can’t do basic multiplication. English is infinitely more relevant.
@@phamvuanhthey a: believe trump / other right wingers when they incorrectly talk about tariffs, or b: believe people like Republican Tim Scott who responds to those questions with things like “oh he doesn’t mean it when he says that.”
@@phamvuanh My conclusion is that the working class has not been taught how tariffs work. The Democrats should have done a better job of explaining basic economics to their potential voters.
Thanks to No Child Left Behind! This program was implemented around 1999, give or take a year. They removed phonetics from the school system and replaced it with sight words. How can someone learn to read if they can’t sound out the words? I’ve been talking about this for 25 fxkn years, and they’ve ignored every single one of my tweets and comments. So I dug in and became a strong advocate for my daughter! School in America is designed to dumb you down. It’s easier to control people who lack the ability to think critically. By the way, I was raised and educated in a hood near you! 🎉🎉🎉
My brother just told me yesterday over Thanks dinner that "the government is controlling the weather." Say no more. The U.S. has to be the dumbest country in the western world. I'm a former educator. Not only are Americans woefully educated, many are proud of the fact. They have fun criticizing people who are educated and DO read above a 6th grade level. I have also lived and taught overseas for about 20 years. People from across the world generally see through our shallow population. They see us as "nice but not too bright." Sorry America, we're not really the "shining city on the hill" at all. We are an ignorant, intolerant society and I predict these people who are willing to sacrifice our democracy by electing a dictator just so they can reduce the price of a dozen eggs are soon going to have a very rude awakening.
I hear you, it's just that the lack of accountability by these people appears to be endless. Even as you write they deflect from the price increases taking place right now!
and this is why the roman empire collapsed in on itself and was invaded an conquered the absolute ignorance an selfishness of people lead to its downfall and scholars wondered why it all went wrong trying to make any logical sense of it all.
A few of the rich owning companies will benefit from tariffs but they will do so by hiking prices for the average citizens. Because the average person has no clue how it works they will just blame other countries.
I am originally from Massachusetts which consistently ranks NUMBER 1 in the country in public education. They spend about $25000 per student per year. I have spent the last 35 years in Central Florida. Florida spends roughly $7000 per student. Florida ranks somewhere in the 40s out of 50 (states). I was an elementary public school teacher in Florida for 20 years. I recently retired and moved out of the state due to cost of living. (Yes, DeSantis can brag there is no state income tax; however, there is a plethora of fees, gas taxes, impact fees, etc.) Several years back, the teachers in South Carolina were striking for more money. The governor at the time said: The constitution of the US says states must provide and education but it doesn't specify the QUALITY. He said that as SC is primarily an agricultural state, there was no need for a high quality public education. He also said that when people are educated, wages increase. I worked for a low socioeconomic school- 96% free and reduced lunch. The school was almost exclusively Hispanic/Latino. Many many students who moved out of their countries of origin came to our public school with no English language skills at all. I WILL TAKE A CLASSROOM FULL OF VENEZUELAN AND COLUMBIAN (non English speaking students) ANY DAY over English speaking white Americans (I also spent 10 years at Orange County's top public school). Kids from Venezuela and Columbia were smart, respectful, DID THEIR HOMEWORK, asked a ton of questions, NEVER BLAMED THE TEACHERS. These kids were hard working and serious about their education. Parents were highly supportive in every way. States that are consistently low ranking: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, West Virginia, Tennessee, etc. As the saying goes: Keep 'em ignorant, keep 'em under control.
I’m a dual citizen. Massachusetts is my American home state (mom’s side of the family). I also lived in Florida (Tampa Bay) for 27 years before fleeing back to Massachusetts. I concur with EVERYTHING you said. And remember, Florida is essentially being used as a testing ground for what the American fascists, otherwise known as the Republican Party, have planned for the country at large. You and I know just how scary/chilling a thought that is.
There's a notion in the US that we have a very good education system, and every year, the numbers increasingly show the opposite. Your examples about the foreign students are not isolated incidents, and I can certify with certainty that it has been going on for decades. Ask me how I know.
Agree totally! From CT, been in FL 35 years and want to move to MA after my kid graduates high school, hope he can go to college there and see a smarter and more cultured society. Hate Deathsantis and facism. The ignorance, arrogance, lack of critical thinking and lack of empathy never ceases to astound me!
Great information David, I've been saying this since his last term. Speaks at a 3-4th grade level, and some people love it. I just cant stand listing to him for more than a minute.
Which is super dangerous, we are at a point of demonizing educated and qualified people, anti science people blasting institutions in general when the only reasons we can live are due to the institutions they want destroyed, and I'm not talking about establishment politicians, I mean the framework of the institutions itself, like the Department of Education.
"The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant." - Maximilien de Robespierre Trump in Nevada (24.02.2016): 'I Love the Poorly Educated'
And the irony is He is ignorant. I would like to see debate on who is Trump's puppet master. I would think Bannon would be a contender. Whomever is the Master they must know thir puppet is very volatile and is vercareful pulling the strings.
Sure, we love them too. But they live a life of trying to cover up and feel validated. Many of them become bitter and quick to put down others. In some ways, education is an exercise in humility and openness -- these things are anathema to the ignorant.
Thank you, Mr. Pakman! I've been waiting for someone to address the issue of Americans who can't think critically. It's definitely an important area that needs addressing.
thank you sir. I've been grumbling these exact thoughts to myself since the election. Kamala didn't lose because she ran a bad campaign, she lost because of the current intelligence/education level in this country. When I listened to some of the voter interviews, I didn't know if I should howl with laughter or cry.
@@NancySavarese when I heard an exit interview of a person who voted for Trump because "he sent me a cheque when I needed it during Covid" as though Trump himself used his own money, it made me have the same reaction as you (not sure whether to laugh or cry). And yet at the time I just thought Trump withheld the cheques for two weeks so he could add his name as an act of vanity and narcissism. Little did I know that there was a large group of recipients who honestly believed he was giving them money from his own pocket and from the goodness of his heart. Ignorance abounds.
Don't be impressed by this clown. Where I come from, critical thinking is the norm, not the exception. That is why I can say unequivocally that he is not a true critical thinker, and neither are you.
@@NancySavarese wow.......huge amount of copium Nancy. If you think Kamala ran a good campaign you are delusional. How the hell are you going to run on "change", but you had been in power for 4 years, then come out and say publicly that you wouldnt change anything from the last 4 years. Then in actuality most of the time she ran on "dont vote for the bad oarange man trump because he is a felon" that wont actually be a felon in the end because all cases were always going to get dropped or appealed and thrown out".
@@jperin001He doesn’t like them, but needs their support. People like Trump laugh at his supporters behind their backs, but tells them he loves them, when he waddles out on stage.
And of course DOE is going to be defunded. In MAGA states the schools will be run by the religious right. The 'teachers' will be Trump loyalists. Children had better learn to keep their mouths shut if their parents are in anyway anti-Trump. Because if they do say anything the parents be off for re-education at the local Gulag.
I had a trumpican tell me the 60% tariff meant prices would drop 60%. Dude got so mad at me when I laughed at his understanding... he f..king totally believed what he was saying. Thought I had been deceived by main stream media... quite funny. And sad
@@cjp1599 “main stream media” is embedded into their vocabulary, now. You use that term in front of a trumpican and their ears will flare up like dog’s ears
@@cjp1599 I call Bullshit On your alleged story , You know why ? Harris voters are pussies and would Never disclose that they voted for such an incompetent person. The fact that you completely fabricated a story to make Yourself sound anything other then the loser you are Shows how pathetic you are. Imagine anyone saying that 60% tariffs means prices here would Be 60% lower , dude you sound so stupid go get a life , take the tampon out your 🍑 😂🤡
As an American public school teacher I can tell you that we do not have an education system. We have a publicly supported childcare system that attempts to educate but has no ability to enforce it. Children are pushed forward regardless of ability. Teachers are required in many places to give credit even when work is not completed. With the exception of intrinsically motivated students, there is very little incentive for others to put forth effort. Spelling and basic grammar is awful even among students that care. " No Child Left Behind" has only led to more kids pushed forward without an understanding of prior skills.
If anyone would listen, I would tell the story of education in Finland, how a country once characterized as a bunch of hick lumberjacks with grade school educations went from one of the worst in the OECD to in the top ten globally. They only let the top 10% of graduates apply to become teachers, they pay them as well as any doctor, they turned all decisions on curriculum and pedagogy over to those teachers. They cut homework, class hours per year (5 hours per day), testing, increased recess/break time, everyone gets free meals made from scratch with local ingredients, there are no fees. In fact all education, even adult education which has a high participation rate is free. There is no tuition, not only for Finnish students, but for any European Union student. Outside the EU students pay a tuition fee that would be comparable to what an in state public university would have cost in the 1980s in the US. They don't teach siloed subjects, but holistic integrated concepts known as Phenomenon-based learning (PhenoBL). While the two national languages are Finnish and Swedish, and most higher level instruction is in Finnish, there are many programs in English and the country is in the top 5 for English non-native fluency.
@@FooDogDat And the second you try to talk about that in the US, people are going to scream "COMMUNIST!" at you, because they've been taught to distrust everything that supports them.
Even is happening at University and College level, I know a person that teached Math, and Calculus at UM (Miami University) and she was fired because don't want to pass students specially the athlete (Football) that were failing her class. Just money is what they want.
I agree, may I also mention that a substantial portion of children are now also taking stimulant adhd medications in formative years before their brain has fully developed. While I think there is a time and a place for medications, we use them in many cases as an alternative to parental and personal responsibility. We are setting up people for failure.
I just suck at math. 🤷🏼♂️ I’ve always sucked at math. Critical reading, history, and literature are a different kettle of fish. That is, if you have a halfway decent education. Unfortunately, I see it all the time: people so poorly educated, that you can’t convince them of any alternatives, hold a reasoned debate, or have a discussion. It simply turns into a heated argument. Finally, I know some people who are intuitively great at math, and struggle to understand history or civics.
Dyscalculia. There's a percentage of the population that just can't do math. We aren't sure why. The biggest problem with even studying it is the number of misdiagnosis in children. A lot of children have a hard time understanding an early math concept which can make it look like they have problem with math in general, but once they finally get it they're able to go on and be just fine. We have to kick out somewhere around 70% of all cases because of that. We mostly understand dyslexia and can kinda work around it for teaching, unfortunately the mechanism for dyscalculia is utterly different. There seems to be a disconnect of understanding an inherent value of something in one part of the brain and being able to connect that value to a numerical number in another part of the brain. So, everything math just turns into gibberish for them.
Possibly, out of this, emerged the 'cancel culture' among young people who cannot deal with any disagreements or properly and bravely argue their case on any issue.
As someone relearning math at age 30. Honestly I used to know a lot of what I’m relearning. But it’s been so long and I don’t use it. Not that I don’t use it. I’m an RN and do med calculations. But it can all be done on a calculator. So I never have to sit down and do it.
I wish that all kids had teachers like I did-teachers who recognize that being a better reader is just as important as being good at math. Both skills are crucial, but sometimes children disengage from the educational process when they struggle with one area. When this happens, they can feel isolated and defeated, which may lead them to stop trying altogether.
My dad would listen to Rush Limbaugh on the radio on the way to drive me to grade school in the 90s. Even then I understood that this person had bad intentions and shouldn’t have been allowed to lie. Not to pull the socialist card, but as soon as profit was the goal of mainstream journalism, we were phuked.
My wife listened to Rush every day. When I came home from work she would shut it off because she was ashamed of listening to this racist. She was an angry woman up to the day she died of cancer.
There has always been an uneasy relationship between journalism and financing it. It has to be paid for at some level, and the arrival of the free news-sites on the Internet did a lot of damage to local papers etc. Ed R Murrow had a speech, "Wires And Lights In A Box" back in 1958 where he laid out his concerns, Network in '76 was a satirical warning... Too long unheeded! What I would say about the US is that the level of media literacy is very low, and the lack of media regulation mixes with that in a terrifying way
Reagan eliminated the Fairness Doctrine in '87, which required radio stations give equal opposing air time to political shows. Once that barrier was gone, every AM station was playing Rush/Rush spawns, within months. Except for a few colleges, all radio in the country is low-brow, right-wing propaganda. Even NPR, underwritten by huge corporations, at 4 pm, ON ELECTION DAY, was interviewing voters.... and airing only pro-Trumpers.
I have to relay my daughter’s story in her high school experience. She went into her freshman English class after coming thru the American experience in school. She was so used to breezing thru classes with A’s that she was freaking out when she got papers back with D’s. She begged me to come to school and talk to the teacher. I did. The teacher said she was there to teach “critical thinking” not fill in the blank or multiple choice tests. She had me immediately with that!!! In fact she said that my daughter was actually doing quite well! She said most kids coming out of the fill in the blank and multiple choice got F’s for most of the first semesters. Long story made short was by the end of the year she was my daughter’s favorite teacher! She actually went to school on a traditional “skip day” to hang out in her classroom! And when it was time to apply to college and had to write an essay to include with her applications…. I asked her if she needed help. Her reply was “ I got this! My English teacher taught me to THINK!” And that skill has benefitted her in numerous ways throughout college and beyond! I will forever be grateful for the teacher who absolutely did not feel fill in the blanks and multiple choice was the skill that those kids needed to be successful beyond high school!!!!! (Sorry this is long!!!)😊
Great story. Most people never get to the point of actually thinking. They just memorize a method to do a task. High end private schools have been doing this for decades, but it has not translated well to public schools.
Same happend in Germany, where I'm from. The initial cause has been the introduction of private broadcasters like RTL, Sat1 and VOX made possible by *THE PEAR.*
The sad part is, too many people don't want to be bothered with learning things they don't know such as, what exactly is a tariff, what's in Project 2025.
People on booktok hate reading books with "too many words" or skip over "boring" sections of FICTIONAL books. Fictional. So you know people aren't reading non-fiction books
Living in the UK we always felt that a lot of Americans were mentally challenged..... Recent events such as the presidental election have proven that the situation is much worse than we even imagined...
Typical American: As long as we have football on Sunday and cold beer, we good. I am exaggerating, but not by much for way too many Americans. I love to travel and love traveling to Europe. I have found on a number of occasions when I travel and talk to the people I meet that they are very surprised that I know anything about their country or their city and when we talk about history or geography they tell me, "We did not know that any Americans knew anything about Europe". I know it is true, but I find it to be extremely sad.
Ironically, I'm an immigrant to the US with a "third world" education and, without trying to be pedantic, it was so much better. Most likely, it cost my parents marginally nothing and I didn't get into student loans. It is clear to me that what's wrong here is multi-factorial: Decades of "uncontrolled capitalism", "populism", and a "winner-takes-all" political system with only two parties, plus many other factors led us here. Illiteracy is not an intrinsic feature of hegemonic powers, which means this trend can be reversed (during the Renaissance period for example..). Your show is a step forward David, keep incentivizing critical thinking..
I know a MAGA lady in West Virginia who is a retired high school teacher! She has no clue what the Constitution is and how government bodies work, that is scary!
Yep, Idiocracy has become reality from a fiction. I have seen a geography teacher who couldnt find France on a world map, she was pointing to somewhere in the Mongolia region
@@Mart77No shit. Feelings of identity can get an underage person irreversible treatments and psychological evaluation is restricted to affirmative notice.
What did she teach? Because I studied for a while to be a teacher (got to student teaching & hated it), and once you get the general classes required of all students, you study very little but your education classes and what you plan to teach. Unless she taught something like civics or government & economics, she'd very likely know little more than anyone else.
@robertensign8786 - lol, that’s bold. I suppose I am a problem for a whole lot of ignorant, belligerent, Neo-fascists. Thank God there aren’t any such folk lurking around here for me to be a problem for. 🤣
I'm from the UK. I am constantly baffled by how so many RW voices you can get away with calling Harris dumb, and uneducated, how she speaks in word salads. Conversely, Tump's frequent word salads get a pass and his educational credentials are never questioned, refusing to release any academic records is a red flag in itself. I'm even more baffled how his obvious contradictory lies are seen as true whilst his grift is seen as business acumen. As an evangelical Christian, I am equally appalled at what MAGA evangelicals call Christian in their drive toward Christian nationalism. Trump elected for a second time is the height of idiocy. The rest of the world does not want to connect with a Trump administration except for Russia and North Korea. The world is now less secure and stable once Trump is in the Oval Office. The lunatics are now in charge of the asylum. Yup something is very wrong with your country. From 2025, it is a new banana republic.
'Political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question begging and sheer cloudy vagueness.’ ‘Political language - and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists - is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.’ Orwell thought England was bad with it. 'How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and [how] hard it is to undo that work again!' Twain's problem with no solution.
It seems the uneducated, fringey, lazy, loser mentality wins, wins, wins with Trump...he's their 'hero', their 'idol', he sticks up for them, he's 'one of them' (but he isn't of course, he's a spoiled rich brat). He's the world's greatest conman, used car salesman. Besides being a full-blown narcissist which just ends with toxifying everything even more.
More countries want to connect with a Trump adminstration, like Israel. Trump and his son-in-law spoke about the splendid possibilities of development of the Gaza region.
I have become very suspicious of the phrase "word salad" . I saw it applied to Amanda Gorman when she read a poem and then it was applied to Harris. I think it's another MAGA code like "woke" used as a put down against Black speech.
As an EU citizen it was baffling how many in the U.S. called wording of Harris as word salad while Trump talked in a way that they could understand. Sure; Harris talks more technical but to me it sounded just like....English and I am not even a native English speaker. That should not be happening!
Exactly. She sounds like a normal human being. He sounds like a lunatic, he's difficult to follow, goes off on weird tangents and just generally speaks very poorly. Yet millions of Americans think he speaks well and criticise Harris 😂 it's baffling. Even Biden at his most geriatric was easier to understand.
Americans are stupid by design. The powers that be learned from the 1960s and Vietnam War protesters that kids in America were too smart for their own good. Since then, politicians, particularly conservative ones, have been chipping a way little by little until we're left with the knuckle dragging drooling population of today.
Exactly! I do get what they were saying by the word salad but the way Trump speaks is worse! It’s pretty much on a 3rd to 4th grade level and people say that make it great for common folks … what!?!?! He has word vomit of the mouth!
@@faithpearlgenied-a5517 It's not hard to understand when you know that there's always been a deep, angry, resentful strain of anti-intellectualism in the US. Trump talks like your best friend after his fifth or sixth beer, sitting on the next barstool and confiding his Gut Feelings to you. He conveys the emotions you feel but can't say. Kamala talks like a schoolteacher lecturing from the front of the room. She imparts information - but many Americans think they already know everything they need to know.
I am an Australian. I first visited the US in 1995. I distinctly recall a conversation with a Las Vegas shuttle bus driver in which he spoke about the intentional "dumbing down" of the US population. This has been a long time in the making, and it hasn't happened by chance.
@@PrinceOfTheCity1 Your wisdom will hopefully be realised with age. You can never judge someone's intellect or abilities on the basis of their occupation.
@@davidbrayshaw3529 I agree… that’s not the point. It’s the fact that someone driving a shuttle bus is complaining about people being dumbed down. I do agree that that has happened as well, however I don’t just say that publicly nor do I drive a bus
In 1984 Ronnie Reagan cut federal funding for education from K through graduate programs by 65% with the swipe of a pen in an executive order. Since that time, I have witnessed the dumbing down of the American population dramatically. This was done in the summer when Congress was on vacation. Think about this for a moment - every school system in the country had already contracted with teachers, administrators, all the support staff and all of a sudden they were faced with either massively cutting programs and coursework OR they could go to their local public and say they needed to raise local property taxes to make up the difference. Well, guess what happened? We now have a population that can't read or think their way out of a wet paper bag. A population so ignorant they don't understand that a tariff will affect them directly in their wallets dramatically. A population whose basic math skills are that of a third grade student today. The pathos is beyond the pall. Gothic ignorance only breeds more of the same.
I was raised in 4 foster homes in the 80s after my dad died and my mom sent me away but kept my older brothers. I couldn't even CONCENTRATE in school long enough to understand beyond basic addition & subtraction. I reject the notion on here that because I suck at math I'm too stupid to know trump isn't fit for President.
Reagan was there when the Soviet Union fell to pieces, but he was also the economic disaster that has brought down the American Empire. Look at England and it's British Empire, 2 world wars brought that down, the cost was astronomical and the losses immense, but now USA is imploding so that the number of Billionnaires can increase and those with such phenomonal wealth can more easily increase it exponentially without paying a fair share of taxes. Face it America Trickle Down Economics was the biggest conspiracy of recent times, but y'all can't decide that the world is a sphere.
No.. he's just being an elitist asshole. The idea that you cannot figure out how the prices work in the face of tariffs if you didn't complete high school is simply untrue. The voters know exactly what the tariffs are going to do, and what they will do politically. They know exactly what the economic effects of clamping down on unskilled immigration will be. For gods sake.. Trump put in 25% tariffs on steel.. and all the steel workers voted for Trump.. winning over key demographics. LOL
When you have a country that denigrates education and expertise, and is more consumed with being ignorant and rich and famous, this is what you get. Not all experts are worth much, not saying that. But our country just worships the wrong people. That’s not an education issue, it’s a character issue. That where the problem really is, in my mind. “A culture of nonthink”… nailed it, David.
this is a pretty good point I agree with you. If you would permit me to expand on your thoughts, I believe that education for the general masses is intentionally watered down because if you want to govern a lot of people you do not want them too educated just educated enough (essentially enough to read road signs and pay taxes)....you also want then distracted (TV, the internet, perhaps specifically social media and tic tock - which has the nice little ancillary benefit of also degrading mental health, easier to rule/govern/control/manipulate, people who are depressed and anxious) you also want them to be somewhat unstable with respect to the home and finances (as in being from a "broken" home, being a renter rather than owner and living paycheck to paycheck). I basically just described the American middle class since about 2000
That lack of character "MadeAmericaGreat". Equal rights only 60 years old. It wasn't illegal till 1978 to kidnap Native American children from the DeathMarchReservation for the ReEducationCamps ("Indian Boarding Schools") where mass child graves being found. (Biden was first to apologize just few weeks ago!) Cornell *History* grad Bill Maher doesn't know USA had ReEducationCamps at all, much less that US had them before Mao was born AND after he died).
That lack of character "MadeAmericaGreat". Equal rights only 60 years old. It wasn't illegal till 1978 to kidnap Native American children from the DeathMarchReservation for the ReEducationCamps ("Indian Boarding Schools") where mass child graves being found. (Biden was first to apologize just few weeks ago!) Cornell *History* grad Bill Maher doesn't know USA had ReEducationCamps at all, much less that US had them before Mao was born AND after he died..
I'm a librarian and I do research instruction for college students. I went to a business/tech class the other day and a couple of them seemed genuinely surprised/skeptical when I said research skills help you make more money, because you make your business and investment decisions off of hard data rather than biased opinions. Maybe no one ever told them that before. If they don't wanna learn, they deserve to be poor.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Absolutely right that you did. The answer to your question unfortunately is a very big, "YES!" I am from the UK and watching what is happening in the US with despair. When I first heard about project 2025, the component that alarmed me more than anything else was getting rid of the Ministry of Education. Dictators need to keep much of their population uneducated, so that they do not critically think about their words, policies or intentions. It is very obvious to me that the US is currently on a downward path and those who open their mouths because they are concerned are instantly shut up as being unpatriotic. I am trying to think of an alternative phrase from the acronym MAGA. The best, or worst, that I can come up with is Making America Goddam Awful. I am open to better suggestions.
Watching from Canada, I was stunned when I learned that Republicans have fought tooth and nail to keep critical thinking courses out of mandatory curriculum.
Are Republicans the only party that believes gods are real? Nope, plenty of Lefties teach their kids the same dumbSh1t but where they differ is Lefties teach kids that men are women if they say so. Both sides are full of CLOWNS.
They, Trump and his enablers want people to be uneducated so that they can use these people for their own interests. It's easier that way. It' s a part of their plan.
@@mandranmagelan9430 Lefties still think Trump colluded with Russia in 20. Critical thinking? I'll bet you think a 10 year old misdemeanor morphing into dozens of felonies happens all the time huh?
Memorising the up to 12x table is very helpful, but when you forget, it gets much harder. I did - many years since I did it - so did 10x80 + 2x8 to get there. But I very nearly screwed up the decimal places.
@@Steveman27 the question was what's 20% of 112 he was using it as an example of how to solve something, it's not about the math as he pointed out. Something you are struggling to understand it seems
I am a 45-year-old software developer. I froze initially thinking about the math problem presented. Lol. It’s not that we didn’t learn these things many years ago; it’s that, thanks to calculators, computers and smart phones, those mental math skills have atrophied significantly. I admit that
I just remembered that one of Trump’s uncles was an electrical engineer, physicist and professor at MIT. His name was John Trump and Fred Trump (Donald’s father) hated how he was nerdy and I believe teased him about it. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in regards to Fred and Donald.
@bobabubbletea393 Brit here. Yes, but he was not quite as great as Trumpy paints the picture. When the great Nikola Tesla died,he left behind a large collection of research papers. John Trump was asked to review them by MIT and rated them very poorly. Many say because they went over his head. Even today, scientists are discovering ideas in the papers. But John Trump was the brightest of the Trump family and Mary comes a close second.
I'm an embedded software and data storage engineer and I have to kind of agree that the availability of calculators everywhere (even bash's $(()) syntax makes opening bc/octave sometimes unnecessary) in a normal working environment does make you a bit lazy and you find yourself not being used to doing calculations in your head. It's really about the tools we have at hand and I wasn't sure that declining mental math skills specifically correlate to critical thinking skills but then I corrected myself: Of course we have tools in our daily lives to help us out with our critical thinking skills when it comes to politics. They are called Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, etc. However these tools are not giving you a "correct" answer, it's just the answer that is most suitable to their audience. So I have to return to my original position: We can be more productive with engineering tools and not be shy about admitting that we aren't as good at performing calculations in our head as our predecessors were, but we're likely more productive anyway because we know how to use our tools. In politics it's different, as there's not always a right and wrong answer (sometimes there really is though, and facts matter!) and you can't rely on any tool giving you the "correct" information. You have to be educated enough to see through lies and wishful thinking that is being channeled to you through these media outlets and there's no shortcut. Education is everything here, and there's a reason that some politicians love the poorly educated.
I moved from NYC to NC and ended up getting a part time job at Walmart. I am no genius ( terrible at math) but I am capable of critical thinking. If I don’t understand something like policy I research it coming to my own conclusion or accepting the facts as they are. I was shocked to see how many of my coworkers were illiterate. I was also surprised at how most of them discouraged their children to attend college, telling me a job at Walmart or a factory is better. Every single person I worked with was a Trump supporter and if I tried debating with any of them it would eventually come down to me insulting their intelligence.
I did claw my way through two post-secondary courses of study and did well. But in those community college or trade school arenas, my impression was that a majority of students were just punching the clock, attending because they felt they had to have the diploma in order to find work. In theory & practice, "higher education" is a mercenary & ugly means of social & personal development
You’re not wrong. I’ve tutored dozens of college students. In mathematics and in almost every case, the student lacked an understanding of formal logic. In the years I’ve been helping students, math wasn’t their real problem; it was understanding logic.
I would be curious what you mean by logic. I struggled in school but the one subject I finally started improving on was actually math. But my logic skills remained as dead as any other skills. For me, it was Algebra. I think the reason I improved when I got to Algebra was because of the simple rules that govern it. If I had simple rules to follow I could do it. Otherwise logic doesn't seem to be something I was any better at than anybody else, almost all of whom did far better than I did.
@@dougschwieder3627 In mathematics, there are a lot of patterns and it requires some level of reasoning to solve a problem. Of course, there are a lot of rules, and it's important to understand why those rules hold true. While it's handy to have rote memorization for arithmetics (like memorizing your times tables), meaningful learning is also just as important (like for understanding how decimal numbers interact when you multiply or divide another decimal number). There are a lot of inferences that have to be made, and induction is something that is a bit tricky to get a proper grasp of.
What might REALLY need to be taught (Again) is Philosophy. But, yeah--basic reading comprehension skills would have to DRAMATICALLY improve, in order for THAT to happen, and in order for THAT to happen. someone is going to have to come up with a way to increase interest in such a "dry and "boring" and "irrelevant" subject as well as figure out a way to increase attention spans....Good luck with THAT. In the meantime perhaps old original Episodes of Star Trek featuring the Vulcan "Mr. Spock" and his penchant for, and deep understanding of, "Logic" will have to suffice...???... (Maybe even old episodes of the Big Bang Theory where we can all see pure logic as delivered by the likes of Sheldon Cooper and gang-minus PENNY of course--far smarter than me with JUST a high school education. that I barely received with something like a C average, and only one College prep class to my credit. And perhaps hope that the METAPHORICAL "Romulans" do NOT kick the asses of the metaphorical Vulcans, and perhaps by DEFAULT kick the LITERAL asses of less developed humanity, unless a metaphorical "Capt Kirk" comes along, and kicks the ass of a metaphorical "Khan", and TOTALLY destroys him, so he doesn't COME BACK to wreak havoc on Kirk himself again.....Unless of course he DOES have a dedicated crew of a new and refurbished USS Enterprise to back his ass up.... Complete with a dedicated Vulcan like Spock as First Officer....Again????!🙄🙄🙄🙄
We taught logic until progressives gained control over education. Aristotle is white. Learning about white men is "racist propaganda." (I wish I was joking) Progressive also removed phonics in favor of the world word method. They directly caused reading comprehension issues.
Yes there is a problem. The US has the lowest education level amongst the developped countries, the shortest life expectancy and the largest gap between poor and rich.
@@ricardocabeza6006And Trump is a world-class A-Hole, as well as a RAPIST, repeated sexual predator, lifelong fraud, convicted felon, etc. So what’s your point?
I salute you, David Packman, for having the courage to say out loud and broadcast to millions what I bite my tongue NOT to ever say publically for fear of the likely response.
Oh be quiet. You democrats have been calling people Hitler, garbage, and deplorable for almost 10 years now. You are playing victim now that you all have been cleanly beaten.
Trump: “They’re eating the dogs” Americans: “oH woRdS I’z UNderStaNd! truMp gOOd!” Kamala: “We’re giving a $25k tax credit to new business owners who start their business in an underrepresented neighborhood” Americans: “wHat LadY say? Don’T trUst, shE SayS biG wordZ”
This...this is...this is actually a real thing and it might even be putting it conservatively. I worked retail like a decade ago and...boy...satire....no match for reality
I was raised and educated in Canada. I got a Bachelor's degree and became a teacher. ,. In 1985 I accepted a teaching job offer in California. The school district gave me a test to determine and verify my educational level of competency.... general reading comprehension, writing skills, math ability, and general (American) knowledge... It was at about a grade six level (by Canadian standards), I scored 100%. They were impressed. I was amazed by their expectation that a basic skills test was appropriate for a university graduate. This has affected my general attitude to American education ever since. Personally I suspect "education" in the USA is sadly lacking and is probably going to get worse given the current federal gong show...
I'm Canadian too and I also have a lot of well educated and smart American friends. I'm not sure education or lack of is what is really driving this current political trend but it's not just happening in the US, it is happening in Canada too and Europe.... and Canada is right behind the US in the growing numbers of conservative right wing fanatics.
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California has been a year behind since at least the 90s compared to the rest.
Im in maga country and everyone around me says the tariffs will bring prices down... but when i interrogate their reasoning for this, it always comes down to "because trump says so" and when i ask why they trust trump, they say "because they prayed about it and god told them too".
Looking at the situation from a country with 99,9 percent literacy... People in Europe and especially in Scandinavia cannot understand this. We do not pay for schooling / education. We do not pay for university studies. There are very few private schools. Of course it is upto each individual how much you read. Libraries are very popular and there is one or more in even the smallest towns, in the countryside there are library busses. It is in the interest of the whole country that people read and understand. Now reading is promoted because young boys do not read enough. Trump says that he loves the uneducated. It is in his interest that people do not understand politics, foreign trade, history, health care.
Correct. Adding further to your comment, it's now seen that being "anti" intellectual and anti-facts means that you are against the deep state, the elite, and the establishment class. He has become the beacon of truth and justice to millions of his followers. They regard him as being the Batman that will bring justice to a system that is rigged against them and that is pro-immigrant, pro-LGBTQ, and pro-communism. Add in the sports team mentality and that is probably only a fraction of the reason why we are in this mess. Lack of education and critical thinking and lack of civics, US and world history also have played a large hand
@@benjaminmyers5299what she meant is that besides paying their taxes they don’t pay for school because is public. Here you pay for taxes and education if you want to have a good education. Statistics don’t lie. We live in a sea of ignorance. The first step to solve a problem is to admit we have one.
I’ve been a public elementary school teacher in the United States for over ten years, and I can say without a doubt that our curriculum is deeply flawed and often confusing-especially when it comes to math. Teachers are at their wits’ end trying to teach 7-year-olds ten different ways to add and subtract. Every day, we introduce a new strategy, but the kids never get a chance to fully master any of them. It’s frustrating. While I generally avoid conspiracy theories, the current system feels like it’s setting children up to fail, making them dread school because it’s so difficult and boring. It almost seems intentional-like a deliberate dumbing down of future generations. I wish I could focus on teaching kids to read, write, and do math in a way that makes sense and sticks, but if we stray from the scripted curriculum, we risk being written up or even fired. I agree with David Pakman that, unfortunately, many Americans today are not well-informed. And when you look at someone like Donald Trump, it's hard not to see him as a symptom of a broader issue-an example of what happens in an under-educated society.
I hear you. My best friend works in special education and her main grievance is what has happened since the "no child left behind" standardized testing came along. It has pigeonholed the way teachers educate geared at these standardised tests.
Teaching 7-year-olds ten different ways to add and subtract is criminal behavior! I mean that! How to confuse children? Just teach them The Best Method till it is their method and then introduce them to one other way as a quick method when they are 9 and get to higher numbers. Are school teachers too nice? Stick up for those kids and yourselves and claim your territory back! Strike if need be. Come together and stand strong against those, that ruin your country's education. I believe you have a moral duty to do so.
You're not wrong and that's by design. The North American educational system is refried garbage. Especially, in special Ed. They're often overcrowded, underfunded, and the subjects can be confusing and boring. Everything that you have mentioned is true and it's all by design.
@@davidlafleche1142... No, we need to go and restructure the entire North American educational system. It needs more money, it needs to be less crowded, and the subject matter should be comprehensive. And there needs to be a less anti-intellectualism encouraged in our society. We need to encourage children to enjoy learning and to question and to not feel ashamed of making mistakes if they don't get an answer right
I'm from Manitoba, Canada. I attended college in Iowa. I remember having Sunday dinner at a classmate's house. When I told them I'm from Manitoba, less than 700 miles due north of them, they clearly had no idea where it was. They asked, "What providence is that in?" Well, the word is "province", and Manitoba *IS* one, it's not *in* one. But it's no secret that most Americans know very little about any place outside of the USA, so I wasn't too bothered by that. But then they joked that the US should just take over Canada as the 52nd state.......smh. Being unable to multiply .8 x .12 is the least of your problems.
I was flying through Miami once and started getting interrogated by one of the security men about where I'm going and why. I said I'm from Scotland and he asked "where's that?" I figured he wouldn't have known where Europe is, so I literally pointed North East and said, "about 3,000 miles that way."
I wish we could split the US into a northern Democratic half and a southern Republican half. Then the north could join up with Canada. And the South can just get what they want and only hinder themselves.
This is perfectly illustrated by J D Vance (a college graduate) standing in front of a microphone and saying Hatians are from Hatia. Of course, he paid for his degree (well, Peter Thiel paid for it), but it still says something about our education system and the permeating feeling that having an education doesn't matter.
@@jplant1414 I once lived across the border from International Falls, Minnesota. So close you could throw something across the river (almost 😁). Let’s say 700 yards (for our American friends who are challenged by the metric system), not 700 miles as in your story. A short bridge joined the two towns. I remember getting a haircut on the American side, chatting with the barber as you do. The person had no concept of Canada beyond “cold, good fishing, good hunting”. Mentioned that I had just moved from Ottawa. That got a “where’s that?”. Ahhh…the CAPITAL of Canada, the country you can spit to from here. Generalizations are not fair to good people who do not fit the oversimplification, but as a population the stereotype that Americans are self-centred (sorry, “centered”), isolationist, and not well informed about anything beyond their borders is not without some truth. It also comes through in arrogance (‘Murica’s the best country in the world, don’t need to travel, nothin’ in the rest of the world worth seein’ or carin’ about). Again, there are plenty of good Americans who are not like this, but there are at least 70 million or so who are, as the last election indicates. I hope those who voted for Trump to lower prices and reduce inflation enjoy their tariffs.
People take pride in being dumb. When I correct someone’s grammar online, instead of getting a “thank you”, I get things like, “It must be nice to know everything” or “This isn’t English class”. Don’t blame the schools. Blame willful ignorance.
Don't blame the schools...okay but the US has scored SHOCKINGLY low when it comes to education for decades now. From what I understood from what our teachers told us in high school, was that if we (our class) didn't pass the standardized tests, the school funding would be cut, and not only would school be more difficult due to lack of resources, but they "would make sure" that our time was more difficult, because we were the cause of the funding being cut...guess what happened? This was a direct result of the Bush-era "no child left behind" bullshit.
My pet peeve is idiots that can't make a distinction between THEIR , THERE , and THEY'RE . Just because they all sound the same - they all have different meanings and uses . People are too lazy to try and educate themselves about which form is correct for the message they are trying to convey . I have gotten replies that state " grammar nazi " or " you know what I meant " . Yes , I know what you intended to say - but , I'm not stupid , and I have no patience with stupid people . MAKE A DAMN EFFORT TO BE BETTER !
Honestly, the correcting of grammer is insignificant compared to educating or bringing an awareness to a subject matter/current events. Pick your battles. Just my 2 cents. 🤷♀️
David, THANK YOU for posting this! As a former teacher, I can attest to the fact that many Americans lack the basic critical thinking skills. I once had a 12th grade student tell me she was never going to Italy because she was afraid to fly. I told her that she didn’t have to fly. Just take the bridge that goes from Elizabeth, NJ to Rome. Her response was where exactly was the exit for the bridge……! If you present an idea convincingly enough, you can get people to believe anything. I said to the student that her question shouldn’t have been where was the exit, but how could there be a bridge that crosses the Atlantic ocean!
Thank you, I realized this when I moved away. The hardest working people who enjoy the least benefits of all the G7. Now Elon is here to gut the little they do have.
I’d be happy to consider a Democrat candidate as long as s/he agrees that it’s wrong for biological males to use restrooms and locker rooms of biological females.
@@Hornsfan64 I'd be happy to consider a democratic candidate supporter a real supporter as long as you agree *none of this stuff about transgender people matter* in every day life and you people need to move on. No one is forcing you or anyone around you to be trans. How *exactly* do you get hurt, with privacy *everywhere* in bathrooms around the country, if someone who identifies as the opposite gender to their biological sex wants to use a bathroom of the gender they identify as? Are they going around preying on people in bathrooms? Absolutely not. It's not affecting you in the least. You need to realize it's just **not an issue**
Calling Americans stupid may not have the desired effects it seems to desire? The Pig Headed Bastids will explain how they are the smartest individuals on the Planet. I stole most of my Education sitting in on classes in Universities. They never gave me a piece of paper to prove I am capable of conforming. I got most of my education from doing business in the North American Continent over the last 50 years. The waste of time that smartypants individuals sites presents are pretty futile to waste time on. Engaging in face to face discussion seems to promote a lot more understanding.
US prioritizes money over people. This is why it is the richest country in history. That comes at a price. Absolutely everything is for sale. My wife and I moved to Greece in September as we FIREd this year. The culture is so different. We live very differently. People are not trying to rip you off at every turn. I paid $50 for a doctor’s visit with no insurance. Bought medication for $2 that costs 10x in the US. Car dealership sold us car without haggling or pushing things on us. We walked away to think about our decision for a week. We are building a house and no contractor is trying to rip us off us. These are just a few of the examples how different things are around the world. We are so happy to be out of US.
@@i_like_beer-o2f How so? We worked hard for over 30 years and invested wisely, living far below our means so we can pull this off. When everyone is buying g]big houses and new cars every few years we saved. Now everyone we know will work for another 15-20 years while we enjoy life as it should be.
Sadly David is spot on about critical thinking. I had a friend who for years hated Trump but ending up voting for him in part because he couldn't afford steak for his family anymore, among other things. When I asked him what Biden did to cause prices to go up he couldn't explain it to me. And he had no coherent answer as to how Trump was going to bring down prices either. He was just mad, and now we have Trump.
I´m going to say something brutal, most people aren´t very clever and never have been. I don´t agree with all of David´s takes, but he´s a very smart person. Most people are not that clever, easily lead and easily fooled.
I'm 81 years old and went through one of the best educational systems in the country many years ago. I've seen the changes with my own eyes. When I was a kid, we had fun sitting around and talking about music, art, science, history, and literature. Yes, FUN! I founded a club whose members did that every Friday night for three years. We craved all we could get. All my friends did. Within just a few years (it really got rolling about the JFK assassination), I noticed that people didn't seem to care much about such things anymore. Now I'm seeing everywhere I look that the educational system in the USA is completely destroyed along with people's ambitions and values. The average person no longer knows much of anything and is incapable of carrying on an interesting conversation. A consequence of that is that they don't have any defenses against misinformation and are inclined to believe anything. In fact, today most people in this part of the world tend to believe what they want to believe regardless of what is provably true. I see no immediate solution to it.
"The average person no longer knows much of anything and is incapable of carrying on an interesting conversation." YES! Even educated people are almost impossible to talk to. There are exceptions ... but it does seem to have gotten worse with time.
Along with decimating the education system, we also have to recognize that the world population has doubled. Classroom sizes are regularly 40+ students (40 is considered lucky these days) with 1 teacher. Add to that the idiotic "no child gets left behind" and the teacher now has even less time for students wanting to advance. They have to spend 80% of their time with the kids that should have been left behind, instead of being able to focus on providing a good education. Yup, again falls to gov't funding, but also, teachers just can't keep up. The result is dumber and dumber humans that just keep getting a pass to the next grade.
I was extremely fortunate to receive an excellent public education in California during the 1970’s and 80’s. As an academic for over 20 years, teaching in various states, I can attest: the ability to discern, to think critically, and to hold attention with complex material…these “abilities” have dropped significantly. We teachers, professors, academics have all noticed changes in students. Screens. Screen addictions via myopic-forming algorithms. Systematic DE-FUNDING of Education! By republicans. For decades! (Especially in red states! And it shows in the electoral map!) Why? Because it is easier to control an under-educated population. Celebrated ANTI-intellectualism. Anti-Science. Anti-education. Anti-FACTS and EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE. (Folks, the “celebration” is by greedy billionaires who continue to manipulate you to vote AGAINST YOUR SELVES!) Increased costs in everyday living (while most wages remained stagnant for decades ) keep people too preoccupied in their survival to read, research, learn factual information. Celebrated “SPECTACLE”-type entertainment. Over SERIOUS INQUIRY AND SELF-GOVERNANCE! So much mind-numbing…..this was, and remains, intentional. By seriously BAD people.
The ones in South Carolina are primarily about segregation. The ones kicked out for pregnancy or discipline issues end up in public school and can’t read.
Private schools are selective - they can pick and choose who they accept & kick out any that have issues. Whereas public school has to take everyone. Even so, with that ability to select, although they do do better in test scores, it's not hugely better, which should raise questions about what they're teaching & how.
My daughter had a high school biology teacher who was teaching creationism. At a public school. As a result she hated biology and said none of it made any sense at all. Until she took an intro course in college. Then she loved it, and the world made sense again. Now she’s a biochemist.
All the religious schools I went to had higher educational standards. The parents expected higher standards and many of different religions paid for their children to attend. Yes religion was a feature but bearable
His point is, too many people have no understanding of much of anything. And proud of that fact. Every time I heard the phrase, "I'm not gonna do all that" when told to read the directions, my brain would just about explode. Ignorance isn't something to be proud of. First time you attempt to do something, you are ignorant of how/why/what could go wrong. It's partly how you learn. Reading the directions reduces the probability of failure. But right back to the start...if you only read at 6th grade level, directions probably won't help you. Ton of dyslexic men out there.
@@cs292 The republicans are the party of Lincoln. People like Laura Ingraham, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Matt Walsh and Megyn Kelly freed the slaves from the Liberal progressive Democrats like AOC and Bernie Sanders - average American voter in 2024.
@@erikolson4598 And this comment section of Pakman exemplifies the lack of introspection,retrospection and critical thinking LOL.
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It starts with humility....knowing you don't know...then begin the decades long process of knowing that IF done right will be a lifetime achievement that never ends!
There has always been an anti-intellectual streak in American culture. My favorite quote on this topic is that a voter told Adlai Stevenson, " Every thinking American will vote for you," & his answer; "Therefore, Madame, I shall not get elected." It is a weakness in our culture.
I don’t think it’s arrogant to bemoan the loss of basic math and reasoning in Americans. I was bad at math in early ‘60s grade school but learned practical arithmetic working a cash register before they had calculators in them. An item would be 20% off and I just had to figure it out or lines would form. I was attentive to arts, language and 20th century history in HS however, and saw what Trump was from a mile off. I blame Republicans for creating this idiocracy.
@itsvanglock, propaganda, if a person only watches one news source and it appeals to their biases they're unlikely to think critically of it even if they're capable, its just how people's work.
Yes let's double down on insulting voters. That worked so well a few weeks ago. Yet you guys wonder why yall lost big. 😂 Keep it up and don't change please.
@@S1D3W1ND3R015 It's important to distinguish between deliberate insults, and I'm not saying there haven't been any, and unpalatable facts. Trump is a douchebag. That is a fact. Maybe you can see it and voted for him anyway. But voting for a douchebag because you feel insulted is hardly the way to make the country a better place.
Watched some great documentaries from Adam Curtis recently including ‘Can’t get you out of my head’. We are ALL dumb, global problems are now so difficult to solve that everyone has retreated into fantasy and is hyper-focused on themselves, the only thing they can control.
It’s pretty obvious that the more educated folks lean left. The uneducated lean right. That’s a generalization of course but it fits in my circle of friends and family.
There will still be schools, however it will be more difficult to enforce what were federal regulations, if you have kids, move to a blue state if you can, and make sure to pay attention who is on your school boards and your state department of education, and push for a Dem Congress in two years to block this insanity.
Reminds me a book publised 1838 in Bern, Switzerland ("Leiden und Freuden eines Schulmeisters" by Jeremias Gotthelf) An elementary school teacher fictional biography in rual areas near Bern - poorly ediucated he worked in poor villages, low incomes for teachers - where teachers leave pupils poorly educated, so that once adult they need the teachers help, for writing a letter to anything beyond elementary arithmetics, starting at multiplications - and have to pay the teacher for. Later in his career that teacher could move to a wealthy village, where to his surprise not only boys but also girls learned to read and to write.
People without the capacity to think critically, people who lack empathy, people so disengaged they’ve literally turned into human shaped animals. This makes them vulnerable to manipulation and easy to herd into the ballot box ultimately getting them to vote against their best interests. Dumb people, of every demographic, that’s who.
The anti-science, anti-education, selfish mindset in the current US population is staggering. And the lowering of education standards since the 1950's is just making things worse. When people are actually PROUD of their ignorance of basic math, science, medicine, engineering, economics and literature, you KNOW a country is going into decline.
It is hard to agree with this, but I do. Sad. I do not think the "50s" were better somehow... we have everything at our fingertips now -- less excuse for ignorance. Still, people relish going their own way and hating self change.
"The anti-science, anti-education, selfish mindset in the current US population is staggering." In contrast, education is highly valued in Asia. As a result, the U.S. is in the process of handing world leadership to China on a silver platter.
@@arewecrazyyet As the original comment states: education standards have been dropping since the 1950s. The Department of Education was created in 1980, and its predecessor (the Office of Education) was limited to recording statistics and histories of US educational institutions. Whether education is better left to the states or the federal government is an interesting political debate, but the fact is that increasingly bloated federal oversight has NOT improved the situation since 1980.
Thank you for speaking the truth. This is why Trump appeals to a lot of people. He speaks in a simple way they understand and they have been taught to despise the highly educated. It makes them feel better about themselves.
@@ad8447 _"Elon musk is a genius though. How is he in Trump camp then?"_ Because Musk is *_at most_* a genius at finding the right people to do the job. He's _almost_ as much an idiot grifter as Trump, and they both owe their "success" to the finances that they got from their parents.
I want to point out that teachers have been screaming into the void for years now that students are passing through middle/high school without basic math and literacy skills
I want to point out that teachers are some of the lowest performers passing through our system of higher education, in which upwards of 40% of students require remediation upon matriculation.
@@Cristian-g9v6x I just re-read your comment five times and I still have no idea what your trying to say. If you are not a robot, use the word ferret in your next response pls.
And also the public education system has been so dumbed down that teachers are strongly encouraged or even forced to make sure every student passes no matter what. You wouldn't believe some of the dumb dumbs in my graduating class that magically graduated even though they failed every test and often skipped class. The system is failing many of us and we are seeing the results of that now.
I'm from Romania and I didn't get bullied for being a girl or middle eastern or bi, I got shit for having good grades. the boys in my class would beat each other if any knew the answer to a teacher's question. and played games like hit the nuts. it was only at university that I met other ppl that appreciated intelligence and hard work, that consumed art and vegetables and low fat food. that cared how taxes work. most of the country can't and doesn't want to work for a degree even though education is free here. there's nothing wrong with wanting to continue your family's farm...but a veterinary or agriculture course would probably help....heck even law or accounting. you'd be running a business after all.
The "dumbs" outnumber us. Like history. People have no clue about human history and can't tell you where other countries are. We are figuratively no better than Afghan villagers when it comes to knowledge of the world we live in.
Im Canadian, went to university in US. Was appalled at the general ignorance of other kids. The lack of general intelligence, I'll never forget. At a Canadian house party, people stand around w drinks in their hands. At an American party they're hanging off the roof, running naked, and starting fights. ...
@@christianpetersen163 American parties sounds like a real life reenactment of an American Pie movie. Shit movie I feel sorry people with so little intellect that they find those sort of movies funny.
So you seriously think it is possible to judge the level of national IQ by behaviour at house parties you happen to have attended? Maybe your IQ needs examining.
This actually proves a very good point about America. Our education and school systems are clearly broken and have failed us, and this year's election proved that.
It is NOT the "education and school systems." It it up to US to continue to educate ourselves, throughout adult life. Knowledge doesn't stay intact and whole forever in our memory. And expecting people to remember everything they learned in high school and college, without any review, is absurd.
European here. I can say that you are absolutely spot on American’s grade level. Even though most Americans that travel to Europe are at least middle class, I am appalled at the ignorance they display about almost any topic we discuss, be it current world events, simple geography or anything else. Most Europeans even know more about America, on all levels, than most American natives. This is why there is so many videos on You tube about Americans making a fool of themselves. Very sad to see.
Back in 2020, there was a US citizen who called me out for what I had posted on You Tube, saying because I am European, I knew nothing about the US and should not post comments. After I made it clear that I can name every State and their capitol cities, he had had enough.
To be fair, this nation has always been rather dim. "woman" doesn't appear once in any founding document, except in context of ownership. This nation has had zero amendments to our Constitution since the 1970's. We are literally stuck in the past.
@@johngodley256 If I had a pound for every time an American told me to shut up (usually accompanied by some jibe about drinking tea) because I had no place commenting on American issues I'd be a rich man. For a nation obsessed with freedom, and constantly banging on about their first amendment rights, they sure don't like others being free to comment!
Its not just education. If 50-60% of the information the public receives from podcasts and social media is highly biased or outright false, then no one is going to be making good decisions anyway.
I posted a comment a few days ago and was admonished for using "big words." The words in question?misogyny...xenophobia...anti-intellectualism...verbiage. Yea...Houston we have a problem.😑
Yeah I was watching a podcast the other day, Andrew something or other, and he and all the comments were lambasting a guy behind the camera for being being intellectual, pretentious, and emotional. They were all hyped about ganging up on him, mocking him, and trying to get him to cry. Their friend and colleague. Because MAGA.
I agree with you completely. Voters are in for a rude awakening because many believed the soundbites/blatant misrepresentations they were fed by the former president.
Tell Congress to RELEASE the Matt Gaetz ethics report atadvocacy.com/gaetzgate-1118?ref=dp
David, FYI the de in demagogue is pronounced same way as democrat or desk, not like detroit
Why don't you start telling the truth first, David?
Recuerda como era la dictadura de Franco: el rifle en una mano y la biblia en la otra.
Eso sin mencionar la dictadura militar en Argentina.
@@randysmith3654 You proved Pakman correct.
@@randomdudejohn sounds like a nit pick
What worries me is not only do people in general seem to be less well educated, there seems to be a subset that seem to celebrate their ignorance and are *deeply* suspicious of anyone who seems to know more than them.
This 100%. I'm not active in my birth Christian denomination for this reason. For far too many American Christians, they view their ignorance as a virtue. To them, it's a testament to their faith in God. And anyone who threatens the worldview informed by that ignorance is a heretic threat to Godly virtue. I was basically driven out of my church.
Religion is invigorating this idolization of ignorance, more than most Americans want to admit.
And mind you, I'm writing this in New York City. I can only imagine what's happening in other parts of the US.
The UK is similar, educated people are looked down on by uneducated morons.
You don’t have to be “ well educated “ to have empathy and critical thinking skills. 😂
Indeed. They fear anyone who even seems more intelligent than them. 😂
@@moviefiend44And I hate to point out the obvious but Muslims, poc’s, and Latin people are extremely religious.
George Carlin had a routine that said that "the people who own this country don't want citizens capable of critical thinking "
He had a better quote, "Think how stupid the average person is, and half the population is dumber than that..."
He aslo has one "Garbage in, garbage out."
i think almost anyone would agree with that statement if asked, but many have no idea what "critical thinking" is. to some, "government bad" and "triggering libs" are the only guiding principles 😔
"That's why it's called The American Dream; because you have to be asleep to believe it." - George Carlin. God I miss that man!
That routine was BS. BTW, Carlin rose to fame with a routine based on him being a class clown.
"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."
~Isaac Asimov
@@ricardocabeza6006 was that you!?‽?
@@namelessfacelessyoutuber6017 ...here's two, they always turn up, offer nothing, try and steal stuff, and fail.
@@JanMorsø No, but I wish it was. Imagine being paid over a million dollars with campaign donations just to shake your backside for a few seconds. What a deal.
@@ricardocabeza6006
Pretty sure the twerking was free. Its not like the Russians paying tenant media to spew soviet lies.
And that the ignorant and the intelligent and the criminals and the honest good blokes each has one same vote.
We have too many idiots that hate education and glorify ignorance.
i agree but ican't hit like
As a former teacher, I fought that in the classroom daily.
..and educated but evil people who foster and enforce ignorance in the masses for their own despicable selfish ends. The demagogues of our times -the farages, the trumps and the musks.
One of them is your future president..
who needs education when we've got GUNS?! YEEEEEEHAW🤠🦅
I have noticed a steep drop off in critical thinking skills over the past two decades, it’s scary.
Thx to the public schools. The public school systems teach kids to obey and not question and safe spaces.
You haven't been paying attention or you would know Americans have never had critical thinking skills.
Actually, it's been happening for a lot longer than that, probably since the 1960s when education wasn't all that great. It left me with such a math phobia that even to this day my palms sweat at the mere thought of doing math.
@@SteveJ-o3o You're an idiot
that is being VERY kind..... the world has noticed the lack of this toddler-level ability for at least 2-3 generations longer....
I'm a high school English teacher of 26 years. I also have a degree in philosophy. I have been teaching students logic, critical thinking, and media literacy for over two decades. But the Republicans in my statehouse continue to defund our public schools, and now I have about 50 more students per day than I did at the beginning of my career. No matter how good a teacher I am, I can't teach these skills as effectively as before. This is how Republicans undermine the education of our citizens.
Educated people are harder to control"Without education a man is a savage wandeing from here to there , beleiving whatever he is told" Marva Colins
It is not just the republicans sweetie, BOTH wings of the evil bird have set this country up to FAIL. Dont let them divide us!!! We are of 1 peoples!!!!
@@fred5399 Non Jewish educated people supported Adolf Hitler in Germany.
WHY are the Republicans defunding the public schools? What's the reasoning behind it?
Edit: a lot of people think it's funny to answer with the silliest of answers. They don't know the situation, but just want to insult people from 'the other' party.
THAT IS what is wrong with the US. You love to throw dirt on each other, where ever you find it. No matter that you look terrible yourselves then too.
Lets call it the Divided States of America, since you seem pretty much at 'war' with each other and can't stand fellow Americans. It's sad to watch from the outside. I've lost so much of my appreciation for your country, simply by corresponding with the lot of you. Always out to manipulate, twist things, falsely accuse, belittle. Yikes, yikes, yikes. Destroying your strength from within.
@@gardenjoy5223 The bosses see tax money as profits which could be in their pockets. The Democrats are no different they only seek votes for phony promises. Obama's and Clinton's children also went to private school.
I watched interviews from all sides during the election. I tried to engage with Trump voters online. I had a few random encounters with strangers, where the price of goods was discussed. These were my conclusions about Trump voters.
1. People mostly ignored COVID ‘s impact on the global economy. Prices lower under Trump fueled many fond memories.
2. They don’t dig in and understand the complexities of many issues or policies. Economics, social justice, immigration, civil rights were not issues they could intelligently discuss.
3. It was all about me and mine. No concern beyond their front door.
4. Harris was all word salad but Trump is strong and confident. As long as he crushed the opposition, they were happy.
5. They were tired of democracy because it is too slow and just wanted someone to fix it (whatever their problem is) now. That’s why they don’t care how crude, rude and criminal Trump is, they just want him to wave the magic Trump wand and all will be well.
On the whole, people are less educated (whether self taught or schooled) because the US does not value its average citizens. We value wealth, celebrity and power. Plus if the rich and powerful business interests can keep the masses riled up and uninformed, it’s just easier for them to control their profits. That usually works for a while until the anarchists decide to burn it all down. A ten-minute read of world history will tell you where we’re headed. The question is how fast we get there.
@@lovesmusic0845 A great analysis!! Very valid points!!
Next year, 2025, that's how fast. Buckle up.
Its the same in Russia,,,,""""Putin will take care of everything for us """"
DITTO. Brilliant observation. I concur. American education is poor. I had a British one in Kenya, and when I came to America to attend college, I was moved to 2nd year. I sent my own daughter to private schools. I am sad for US_All.
Don't engage....they wish to report you in the hopes of getting you banned....I have had to reword that message several times....mid comment the you to the tube would start glitching and I recd notice that I had been reported....block redhatters on all social media....
I’m a retired lawyer. I grew up in a working class neighborhood in the 50’s. Average reading ability of adults was 6th grade. They were very astute and had more common sense than many current elites who live in their bubble of prosperity. What was interesting is that these non college educated voters unconsciously assumed that newspaper journalists, TV news anchors and opinion show ‘experts’ knew more than they did and that they would not blatantly lie in a public forum. The level of harm done by the blatant distortion and/or misinformation by ‘entertainment’ shows like Fox News as well as the corporate control of news media in general has been catastrophic. Facts are no longer important, just opinion. This has allowed a consummate liar to pose as an honest candidate. Once the ‘News’ became monetized, democracy was in dire trouble. Add in the decimation of the purchasing power of the working/middle class and you get middle finger politics. Prosperous Progressives loved DEI, but were oblivious to the increasing desperation of the paycheck to paycheck worker. Democracy becomes a casualty of rampant disinformation and the worst inequality since the Gilded Age. BTW - I forgot how to multiply decimals 20 years ago.
This is the best comment I've read. Yes, corporate media is reaping what they sowed, and the Internet has taken the old fashioned means of information and turned it into a soapbox for everyone. The ignorant and ill informed have a platform. This is the era of ego, it seems to drive everything, critical thinking be damned. BTW, I was never good at math, never had an interest in it, although I am a retired teacher.
So no lying on the other non fox networks right? Sheesh
They didn’t have a phone for brains !
Re;Your mentnio of DEI: working class people are NOT ONLY white and male.
I had to explain to my younger engineer cousin that the Fox News thuggernaut was primed and prepared here in Australia, where it s Murdoch or Fairfax and in Queensland it's all Rupert, including local papers. There is nothing more disgusting then viewing some of the ideas propounded as news.
My dad is not a smart man. Probably reads at a 5th grade level, and does it slowly. But he knows clear as day how awful Trump is as a human being, and how dangerous he is for the country. It's a simple matter of recognizing a good guy from a bad guy. And that's what I had hoped the majority of the country could do
Its so sad
Your father is a smart man, he's not fooled by Chump
People are just stupid racist
The poorly educated majority cannot do what your dad did.
They just turn a blind eye to poor character when someone is wearing their color. And in fact, they prefer a crass individual to "defend" them.
Lack of education AND lack of empathy.
They go hand in hand
Yes, there is lack of awareness of the challenges others face. My country Switzerland for example provides a striking example of how a welfare state can operate successfully, blending high levels of prosperity with effective support for those in need. The country boasts a robust economy with low inflation, high salaries, and a strong social safety net. Notably, homelessness is extremely low, and crime rates are minimal, which speaks to the effectiveness of social policies aimed at promoting both individual and collective well-being.
One of the most impressive aspects of Switzerland’s system is its commitment to social equality. The minimum income of 2,000 Swiss francs ensures that even those in vulnerable positions have access to basic financial security, preventing extreme poverty. Moreover, the system provides extensive support to individuals who face mental or physical illness, enabling early retirement or assistance in transitioning to new jobs. This holistic approach exemplifies the idea that wealth and social welfare are not mutually exclusive but can coexist to create a more balanced, humane society.
Switzerland’s success lies in its recognition that a prosperous society can both cultivate economic growth and ensure that no one is left behind. The focus is on inclusive progress, which benefits everyone, rich and poor alike, by creating opportunities for all to thrive. This demonstrates that it is possible to maintain a high standard of living for the affluent, while simultaneously providing meaningful support to those facing hardship. It is a model of how a well-balanced welfare state can function in a capitalist society, promoting equity without sacrificing economic vitality.
Americans could learn a lot from us. No sane Swiss person would want to immigrate to the USA.
With respect - a little pushback on this. I have heard ceaselessly the comment, "We don't teach civics in our schools - that is the problem." Best response I have heard (not mine) was asked to me, "Did you take any foreign language classes in high school?" I replied "Yes - two years of French." Next question was, "Do you know the words to the 'Pledge of Allegiance'?" After saying 'Yes' I was asked to "Translate the Pledge in French to me right now, please." Of course, I could not. When asked why, it was because I didn't speak or write French since high school.
Here lies the problem - it is cultural. Whenever I travel overseas and people find out I am an American, I am repeatedly asked about American politics and policies. Back home, the two subjects we never talk about in polite company are politics and religion. The problem is not educational - it is cultural. We do not discuss what we learned after leaving school because it is a cultural norm in America. Hence, all those lessons are quickly forgotten by the disengaged or those not in those fields.
They most likely had the educational opportunities but just couldn’t be bothered. The UK is full of the same educational underclass. They not only hold themselves backwards but also the country’s economic growth. So many people are just disconnected. Socialists are probably too nervous to put this sector under the microscope to find out what’s happening in their backgrounds, at the fear of being called exceptional.
Yes yes😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Yes something is wrong with America. We’ve elected Trump not once but twice.
Yes. But this video is about one of the main reasons why that happened.
Exactly after 9yrs of seeing what he is time after time.
Yes! 😂😂
Dirty diaper donOLD is NOT my President! He is a malignant Narcissist, racist, mysogynistic totally unfit asshole who is responsible for thousand of deaths from Coivid, by lying. How can people miss that?
Non-Americans have no difficulty seeing what's wrong with America. I'm sure quite a few Americans can too. I'm not writing an essay, but it runs pretty much to the core of your societal beliefs and how your society operates. Not easy to change, close to impossible in fact.
A&W tried to introduce a 1\3 pound burger to compete with McDonald's 1\4 pounder.
It failed because 3 is smaller than 4 so most people thought it was a smaller burger.
“Governments don't want a population capable of critical thinking, they want obedient workers, people just smart enough to run the machines and just dumb enough to passively accept their situation.”
― George Carlin
- George Carlin doing his old man character which eventually became his whole thing.
@christianpetersen163 - George Carlin being observant. If that is exclusive to old men, sign me up.
@@JB-lp9xr Didn't say it wasn't good 😂
@@christianpetersen163 He was right though.
We used to hear American. Public education used to be the goal of a strong nation, no more.
In my experience, people that didn't learn basic math, language arts, science, etc. skills when they were young, become adults that attempt to hide their ignorance with bravado and BS. They lack the confidence to admit that they don't understand.
That's how you get people like Elon Musk.
Someone who is too stupid to understand how dumb they sound will always be more convincing than a genius who recognizes the flaws in even the best plans
@@Langtwyou think Elon Musk is stupid?
@leetommerson639 Elon Musk is an unintelligent man. He was pushed out of PayPal because of his sheer incompetence. His companies function better the further from them he is.
He would probably be fine as a cashier or maybe even an electrician, but he is a fundamentally incurious person.
He watches sci-fi movies then claims he can make them real because he doesn't understand how difficult that would be, and he's too stupid to bother to learn.
@@leetommerson639Elon Musk isn't classically dumb...he is on the autism spectrum & struggles with social interaction along with narcissism and a BIGLY ego
I agree in large part but the mathematical ability of a person or group of people as a barometer for their cultural / media literacy is incredibly stupid. These are completely different parts of the brain. I have friends with political science degrees who can’t do basic multiplication. English is infinitely more relevant.
The tariffs are meant to make the working class pay for the billionaire tax cuts. Period. End. Stop.
Yet the working class voted for him. What is your conclusion?
Hmmmmmmm there is a slight flaw in your logic
That's true, but the working class THINKS and KNOWS China is paying the tariff, and prices here in America will drop, or stay the same.😒
@@phamvuanhthey a: believe trump / other right wingers when they incorrectly talk about tariffs, or b: believe people like Republican Tim Scott who responds to those questions with things like “oh he doesn’t mean it when he says that.”
@@phamvuanh My conclusion is that the working class has not been taught how tariffs work. The Democrats should have done a better job of explaining basic economics to their potential voters.
Thanks to No Child Left Behind! This program was implemented around 1999, give or take a year. They removed phonetics from the school system and replaced it with sight words. How can someone learn to read if they can’t sound out the words?
I’ve been talking about this for 25 fxkn years, and they’ve ignored every single one of my tweets and comments. So I dug in and became a strong advocate for my daughter!
School in America is designed to dumb you down. It’s easier to control people who lack the ability to think critically.
By the way, I was raised and educated in a hood near you! 🎉🎉🎉
2002, not 1999.
“The best argument against Democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” --Winston Churchill
We are a republic educate yourself
@@LongDong-w3gwe’re not democracy?
@@LongDong-w3g your comment exemplifies this video
"Democracy is a terrible form of government; it's just that the other ones are so much worse." (sorry, don't know who said this)
@@LongDong-w3g…aaaaaand what is a Republic?
🤡
My brother just told me yesterday over Thanks dinner that "the government is controlling the weather." Say no more. The U.S. has to be the dumbest country in the western world. I'm a former educator. Not only are Americans woefully educated, many are proud of the fact. They have fun criticizing people who are educated and DO read above a 6th grade level. I have also lived and taught overseas for about 20 years. People from across the world generally see through our shallow population. They see us as "nice but not too bright." Sorry America, we're not really the "shining city on the hill" at all. We are an ignorant, intolerant society and I predict these people who are willing to sacrifice our democracy by electing a dictator just so they can reduce the price of a dozen eggs are soon going to have a very rude awakening.
Ha ha! That’s generous! Assuming they can awaken! The spin doctors are perfecting new spins in anticipation!
I hear you, it's just that the lack of accountability by these people appears to be endless. Even as you write they deflect from the price increases taking place right now!
and this is why the roman empire collapsed in on itself and was invaded an conquered the absolute ignorance an selfishness of people lead to its downfall and scholars wondered why it all went wrong trying to make any logical sense of it all.
A few of the rich owning companies will benefit from tariffs but they will do so by hiking prices for the average citizens. Because the average person has no clue how it works they will just blame other countries.
@rapier1954 Whenever there's a price increase, the opportunity to increase the profit margin exist.
I am originally from Massachusetts which consistently ranks NUMBER 1 in the country in public education. They spend about $25000 per student per year. I have spent the last 35 years in Central Florida. Florida spends roughly $7000 per student. Florida ranks somewhere in the 40s out of 50 (states). I was an elementary public school teacher in Florida for 20 years. I recently retired and moved out of the state due to cost of living. (Yes, DeSantis can brag there is no state income tax; however, there is a plethora of fees, gas taxes, impact fees, etc.) Several years back, the teachers in South Carolina were striking for more money. The governor at the time said: The constitution of the US says states must provide and education but it doesn't specify the QUALITY. He said that as SC is primarily an agricultural state, there was no need for a high quality public education. He also said that when people are educated, wages increase. I worked for a low socioeconomic school- 96% free and reduced lunch. The school was almost exclusively Hispanic/Latino. Many many students who moved out of their countries of origin came to our public school with no English language skills at all. I WILL TAKE A CLASSROOM FULL OF VENEZUELAN AND COLUMBIAN (non English speaking students) ANY DAY over English speaking white Americans (I also spent 10 years at Orange County's top public school). Kids from Venezuela and Columbia were smart, respectful, DID THEIR HOMEWORK, asked a ton of questions, NEVER BLAMED THE TEACHERS. These kids were hard working and serious about their education. Parents were highly supportive in every way. States that are consistently low ranking: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, West Virginia, Tennessee, etc. As the saying goes: Keep 'em ignorant, keep 'em under control.
americans, all of them, are stupid
I’m a dual citizen. Massachusetts is my American home state (mom’s side of the family). I also lived in Florida (Tampa Bay) for 27 years before fleeing back to Massachusetts. I concur with EVERYTHING you said. And remember, Florida is essentially being used as a testing ground for what the American fascists, otherwise known as the Republican Party, have planned for the country at large. You and I know just how scary/chilling a thought that is.
There's a notion in the US that we have a very good education system, and every year, the numbers increasingly show the opposite. Your examples about the foreign students are not isolated incidents, and I can certify with certainty that it has been going on for decades. Ask me how I know.
@@bert7196 Is that rhetorical? I'd love to hear what you have to say.
Agree totally! From CT, been in FL 35 years and want to move to MA after my kid graduates high school, hope he can go to college there and see a smarter and more cultured society. Hate Deathsantis and facism. The ignorance, arrogance, lack of critical thinking and lack of empathy never ceases to astound me!
Great information David, I've been saying this since his last term. Speaks at a 3-4th grade level, and some people love it. I just cant stand listing to him for more than a minute.
The rejection of intellectualism and the embrace of ignorance is pretty messed up and it's something that's been building up for decades.
Idiocracy
Which is super dangerous, we are at a point of demonizing educated and qualified people, anti science people blasting institutions in general when the only reasons we can live are due to the institutions they want destroyed, and I'm not talking about establishment politicians, I mean the framework of the institutions itself, like the Department of Education.
and glorified by the orange god....
You mean liberalism
Yes it has very disgusting
"The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant." - Maximilien de Robespierre
Trump in Nevada (24.02.2016): 'I Love the Poorly Educated'
And the irony is He is ignorant. I would like to see debate on who is Trump's puppet master. I would think Bannon would be a contender. Whomever is the Master they must know thir puppet is very volatile and is vercareful pulling the strings.
Sure, we love them too. But they live a life of trying to cover up and feel validated. Many of them become bitter and quick to put down others. In some ways, education is an exercise in humility and openness -- these things are anathema to the ignorant.
Robespierre…lost his head.
Mendacious drivel.
Thank you, Mr. Pakman! I've been waiting for someone to address the issue of Americans who can't think critically. It's definitely an important area that needs addressing.
thank you sir. I've been grumbling these exact thoughts to myself since the election. Kamala didn't lose because she ran a bad campaign, she lost because of the current intelligence/education level in this country. When I listened to some of the voter interviews, I didn't know if I should howl with laughter or cry.
@@NancySavarese when I heard an exit interview of a person who voted for Trump because "he sent me a cheque when I needed it during Covid" as though Trump himself used his own money, it made me have the same reaction as you (not sure whether to laugh or cry). And yet at the time I just thought Trump withheld the cheques for two weeks so he could add his name as an act of vanity and narcissism. Little did I know that there was a large group of recipients who honestly believed he was giving them money from his own pocket and from the goodness of his heart. Ignorance abounds.
Don't be impressed by this clown. Where I come from, critical thinking is the norm, not the exception. That is why I can say unequivocally that he is not a true critical thinker, and neither are you.
Yeah like white liberals and the brainwashed plantations they keep going
@@NancySavarese wow.......huge amount of copium Nancy. If you think Kamala ran a good campaign you are delusional. How the hell are you going to run on "change", but you had been in power for 4 years, then come out and say publicly that you wouldnt change anything from the last 4 years. Then in actuality most of the time she ran on "dont vote for the bad oarange man trump because he is a felon" that wont actually be a felon in the end because all cases were always going to get dropped or appealed and thrown out".
I work in a fourth grade classroom. This is absolutely correct
This is how Trump played American's.
" I like the poorly educated"
And I wonder if any of Trump's supporters honestly asked themselves why he likes them.
@@jperin001because he told us in a fucking dream!, can't wait till next year when all you weak minded sheep get... Well fed and groomed 😉😜
Americans *
-_-
@@jperin001He doesn’t like them, but needs their support. People like Trump laugh at his supporters behind their backs, but tells them he loves them, when he waddles out on stage.
And of course DOE is going to be defunded. In MAGA states the schools will be run by the religious right. The 'teachers' will be Trump loyalists. Children had better learn to keep their mouths shut if their parents are in anyway anti-Trump. Because if they do say anything the parents be off for re-education at the local Gulag.
I had a trumpican tell me the 60% tariff meant prices would drop 60%.
Dude got so mad at me when I laughed at his understanding... he f..king totally believed what he was saying. Thought I had been deceived by main stream media... quite funny. And sad
@@cjp1599 yes, you are the complete sane one.
No worries ,
Your actually a brainiac , Einstein levels of smartness.
All hail cjp.
Stfu you 🤡
Jeez ! 😮
@@cjp1599 “main stream media” is embedded into their vocabulary, now. You use that term in front of a trumpican and their ears will flare up like dog’s ears
Very sad for all of us
@@cjp1599 I call
Bullshit
On your alleged story ,
You know why ? Harris voters are pussies and would
Never disclose that they voted for such an incompetent person.
The fact that you completely fabricated a story to make
Yourself sound anything other then the loser you are
Shows how pathetic you are.
Imagine anyone saying that 60% tariffs means prices here would
Be 60% lower , dude you sound so stupid go get a life , take the tampon out your 🍑 😂🤡
As an American public school teacher I can tell you that we do not have an education system. We have a publicly supported childcare system that attempts to educate but has no ability to enforce it. Children are pushed forward regardless of ability. Teachers are required in many places to give credit even when work is not completed. With the exception of intrinsically motivated students, there is very little incentive for others to put forth effort. Spelling and basic grammar is awful even among students that care. " No Child Left Behind" has only led to more kids pushed forward without an understanding of prior skills.
Lots of funding Schools in better or richer areas and underfunding those in poorer areas. A deliberate policy. Only in America.
If anyone would listen, I would tell the story of education in Finland, how a country once characterized as a bunch of hick lumberjacks with grade school educations went from one of the worst in the OECD to in the top ten globally.
They only let the top 10% of graduates apply to become teachers, they pay them as well as any doctor, they turned all decisions on curriculum and pedagogy over to those teachers.
They cut homework, class hours per year (5 hours per day), testing, increased recess/break time, everyone gets free meals made from scratch with local ingredients, there are no fees. In fact all education, even adult education which has a high participation rate is free.
There is no tuition, not only for Finnish students, but for any European Union student. Outside the EU students pay a tuition fee that would be comparable to what an in state public university would have cost in the 1980s in the US.
They don't teach siloed subjects, but holistic integrated concepts known as Phenomenon-based learning (PhenoBL).
While the two national languages are Finnish and Swedish, and most higher level instruction is in Finnish, there are many programs in English and the country is in the top 5 for English non-native fluency.
@@FooDogDat And the second you try to talk about that in the US, people are going to scream "COMMUNIST!" at you, because they've been taught to distrust everything that supports them.
Even is happening at University and College level, I know a person that teached Math, and Calculus at UM (Miami University) and she was fired because don't want to pass students specially the athlete (Football) that were failing her class. Just money is what they want.
I agree, may I also mention that a substantial portion of children are now also taking stimulant adhd medications in formative years before their brain has fully developed. While I think there is a time and a place for medications, we use them in many cases as an alternative to parental and personal responsibility. We are setting up people for failure.
I just suck at math. 🤷🏼♂️ I’ve always sucked at math. Critical reading, history, and literature are a different kettle of fish. That is, if you have a halfway decent education. Unfortunately, I see it all the time: people so poorly educated, that you can’t convince them of any alternatives, hold a reasoned debate, or have a discussion. It simply turns into a heated argument. Finally, I know some people who are intuitively great at math, and struggle to understand history or civics.
Dyscalculia. There's a percentage of the population that just can't do math. We aren't sure why. The biggest problem with even studying it is the number of misdiagnosis in children. A lot of children have a hard time understanding an early math concept which can make it look like they have problem with math in general, but once they finally get it they're able to go on and be just fine. We have to kick out somewhere around 70% of all cases because of that. We mostly understand dyslexia and can kinda work around it for teaching, unfortunately the mechanism for dyscalculia is utterly different. There seems to be a disconnect of understanding an inherent value of something in one part of the brain and being able to connect that value to a numerical number in another part of the brain. So, everything math just turns into gibberish for them.
Possibly, out of this, emerged the 'cancel culture' among young people who cannot deal with any disagreements or properly and bravely argue their case on any issue.
I'm half Korean and I'm wicked good at math, own Coach purses, drove a CRV *and* rice is my favorite food. 🎉❤
As someone relearning math at age 30. Honestly I used to know a lot of what I’m relearning. But it’s been so long and I don’t use it. Not that I don’t use it. I’m an RN and do med calculations. But it can all be done on a calculator. So I never have to sit down and do it.
I wish that all kids had teachers like I did-teachers who recognize that being a better reader is just as important as being good at math. Both skills are crucial, but sometimes children disengage from the educational process when they struggle with one area. When this happens, they can feel isolated and defeated, which may lead them to stop trying altogether.
My dad would listen to Rush Limbaugh on the radio on the way to drive me to grade school in the 90s. Even then I understood that this person had bad intentions and shouldn’t have been allowed to lie. Not to pull the socialist card, but as soon as profit was the goal of mainstream journalism, we were phuked.
People demand news for entertainement and tribalism nowadays.
My wife listened to Rush every day. When I came home from work she would shut it off because she was ashamed of listening to this racist. She was an angry woman up to the day she died of cancer.
There has always been an uneasy relationship between journalism and financing it. It has to be paid for at some level, and the arrival of the free news-sites on the Internet did a lot of damage to local papers etc. Ed R Murrow had a speech, "Wires And Lights In A Box" back in 1958 where he laid out his concerns, Network in '76 was a satirical warning... Too long unheeded!
What I would say about the US is that the level of media literacy is very low, and the lack of media regulation mixes with that in a terrifying way
I also knew as a teenager he was bad news
Reagan eliminated the Fairness Doctrine in '87, which required radio stations give equal opposing air time to political shows. Once that barrier was gone, every AM station was playing Rush/Rush spawns, within months. Except for a few colleges, all radio in the country is low-brow, right-wing propaganda. Even NPR, underwritten by huge corporations, at 4 pm, ON ELECTION DAY, was interviewing voters.... and airing only pro-Trumpers.
I have to relay my daughter’s story in her high school experience. She went into her freshman English class after coming thru the American experience in school. She was so used to breezing thru classes with A’s that she was freaking out when she got papers back with D’s. She begged me to come to school and talk to the teacher. I did. The teacher said she was there to teach “critical thinking” not fill in the blank or multiple choice tests. She had me immediately with that!!! In fact she said that my daughter was actually doing quite well! She said most kids coming out of the fill in the blank and multiple choice got F’s for most of the first semesters. Long story made short was by the end of the year she was my daughter’s favorite teacher! She actually went to school on a traditional “skip day” to hang out in her classroom! And when it was time to apply to college and had to write an essay to include with her applications…. I asked her if she needed help. Her reply was “ I got this! My English teacher taught me to THINK!” And that skill has benefitted her in numerous ways throughout college and beyond! I will forever be grateful for the teacher who absolutely did not feel fill in the blanks and multiple choice was the skill that those kids needed to be successful beyond high school!!!!! (Sorry this is long!!!)😊
Thinking is not the issue, HATRED is
@@tesmith47 Absence of one leads to the other.
@@paulcorcoran2160 yes.
This is a great story. 💜 thank you.
Great story. Most people never get to the point of actually thinking. They just memorize a method to do a task. High end private schools have been doing this for decades, but it has not translated well to public schools.
And the solution is to get rid of the department of education and ban books!?? Only in America...
if the goal is to have a religous based oligarchy....we are well on our way.
😂😂😂😂
Let’s be real, the department of education is clearly a giant fail.
Easy to control people if they are uneducated.
Trump loves the uneducated.....and we have millions who are.
Since Reagan on down, the American political class doesn’t advocate for reading books, so respect for intellectual curiosity is none existent.
Same happend in Germany, where I'm from. The initial cause has been the introduction of private broadcasters like RTL, Sat1 and VOX made possible by *THE PEAR.*
The sad part is, too many people don't want to be bothered with learning things they don't know such as, what exactly is a tariff, what's in Project 2025.
People on booktok hate reading books with "too many words" or skip over "boring" sections of FICTIONAL books. Fictional. So you know people aren't reading non-fiction books
To be fair, education can be intimidating, especially in the mature population. Ego is such a hurdle to so many advances.
Thanks to the internet, it's a struggle to even keep up with the things you're somewhat familiar with.
And as one of my students said, "We don't *know* what we don't know."
It's not just that it's the feeling of being embarrassed. We don't live in the most socially accepting of societies.
Living in the UK we always felt that a lot of Americans were mentally challenged..... Recent events such as the presidental election have proven that the situation is much worse than we even imagined...
Many Americans are painfully aware of this dire situation. It's frightening.
The UK is trying to catch up to America, critical thinking skills here are dreadful, Brexit for example.
Imagine living here and having to deal with this idiocy. Worst part, these ppl think they are intelligent!
Typical American: As long as we have football on Sunday and cold beer, we good. I am exaggerating, but not by much for way too many Americans. I love to travel and love traveling to Europe. I have found on a number of occasions when I travel and talk to the people I meet that they are very surprised that I know anything about their country or their city and when we talk about history or geography they tell me, "We did not know that any Americans knew anything about Europe". I know it is true, but I find it to be extremely sad.
@@adamlea6339 That's the first thing which comes to mind, together with the regrets after the fact.
This is why bumper sticker policies and slogans go over so well. Short, simple, easy to remember and little thought is required.
Intellectual laziness is at an all-time high
That doesn't just work for dumbies, its just how the brain works.
@@jrzygurl Is that why Harris paid for a music artist to twerk on stage during a campaign rally?
When I first heard about Twitter and it’s character limits, I knew that was the beginning of the end.
A certain gender thinks in slogans.
Ironically, I'm an immigrant to the US with a "third world" education and, without trying to be pedantic, it was so much better. Most likely, it cost my parents marginally nothing and I didn't get into student loans. It is clear to me that what's wrong here is multi-factorial: Decades of "uncontrolled capitalism", "populism", and a "winner-takes-all" political system with only two parties, plus many other factors led us here. Illiteracy is not an intrinsic feature of hegemonic powers, which means this trend can be reversed (during the Renaissance period for example..). Your show is a step forward David, keep incentivizing critical thinking..
I know a MAGA lady in West Virginia who is a retired high school teacher! She has no clue what the Constitution is and how government bodies work, that is scary!
Yep, Idiocracy has become reality from a fiction. I have seen a geography teacher who couldnt find France on a world map, she was pointing to somewhere in the Mongolia region
@@Mart77No shit. Feelings of identity can get an underage person irreversible treatments and psychological evaluation is restricted to affirmative notice.
@@korvaamiko66 Even scarier is that it’s not going to get better.
What did she teach? Because I studied for a while to be a teacher (got to student teaching & hated it), and once you get the general classes required of all students, you study very little but your education classes and what you plan to teach. Unless she taught something like civics or government & economics, she'd very likely know little more than anyone else.
50-53% of the American public read at 6th grade level. That explains where we are now.
I taught college freshman English for 17 years. You are spot on.
@@robertensign8786 you should be deported
I remember diagramming sentences in junior high. 🤣
@robertensign8786 - lol, that’s bold. I suppose I am a problem for a whole lot of ignorant, belligerent, Neo-fascists. Thank God there aren’t any such folk lurking around here for me to be a problem for. 🤣
They should of told you to drink a 48oz glass of donkey balls juice.
@ 🤣 You realize I’m a priest, right?
I'm from the UK. I am constantly baffled by how so many RW voices you can get away with calling Harris dumb, and uneducated, how she speaks in word salads. Conversely, Tump's frequent word salads get a pass and his educational credentials are never questioned, refusing to release any academic records is a red flag in itself. I'm even more baffled how his obvious contradictory lies are seen as true whilst his grift is seen as business acumen. As an evangelical Christian, I am equally appalled at what MAGA evangelicals call Christian in their drive toward Christian nationalism. Trump elected for a second time is the height of idiocy. The rest of the world does not want to connect with a Trump administration except for Russia and North Korea. The world is now less secure and stable once Trump is in the Oval Office. The lunatics are now in charge of the asylum. Yup something is very wrong with your country. From 2025, it is a new banana republic.
'Political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question begging and sheer cloudy vagueness.’
‘Political language - and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists - is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.’
Orwell thought England was bad with it.
'How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and [how] hard it is to undo that work again!'
Twain's problem with no solution.
In spades!!!
It seems the uneducated, fringey, lazy, loser mentality wins, wins, wins with Trump...he's their 'hero', their 'idol', he sticks up for them, he's 'one of them' (but he isn't of course, he's a spoiled rich brat). He's the world's greatest conman, used car salesman. Besides being a full-blown narcissist which just ends with toxifying everything even more.
More countries want to connect with a Trump adminstration, like Israel. Trump and his son-in-law spoke about the splendid possibilities of development of the Gaza region.
I have become very suspicious of the phrase "word salad" . I saw it applied to Amanda Gorman when she read a poem and then it was applied to Harris. I think it's another MAGA code like "woke" used as a put down against Black speech.
Education is failing
As an EU citizen it was baffling how many in the U.S. called wording of Harris as word salad while Trump talked in a way that they could understand. Sure; Harris talks more technical but to me it sounded just like....English and I am not even a native English speaker. That should not be happening!
Exactly. She sounds like a normal human being. He sounds like a lunatic, he's difficult to follow, goes off on weird tangents and just generally speaks very poorly. Yet millions of Americans think he speaks well and criticise Harris 😂 it's baffling. Even Biden at his most geriatric was easier to understand.
Americans are stupid by design. The powers that be learned from the 1960s and Vietnam War protesters that kids in America were too smart for their own good. Since then, politicians, particularly conservative ones, have been chipping a way little by little until we're left with the knuckle dragging drooling population of today.
Exactly! I do get what they were saying by the word salad but the way Trump speaks is worse! It’s pretty much on a 3rd to 4th grade level and people say that make it great for common folks … what!?!?! He has word vomit of the mouth!
When Harris spoke, it wasnt even technical! Many times it wasnt jargon
@@faithpearlgenied-a5517 It's not hard to understand when you know that there's always been a deep, angry, resentful strain of anti-intellectualism in the US.
Trump talks like your best friend after his fifth or sixth beer, sitting on the next barstool and confiding his Gut Feelings to you. He conveys the emotions you feel but can't say.
Kamala talks like a schoolteacher lecturing from the front of the room. She imparts information - but many Americans think they already know everything they need to know.
I am an Australian. I first visited the US in 1995. I distinctly recall a conversation with a Las Vegas shuttle bus driver in which he spoke about the intentional "dumbing down" of the US population. This has been a long time in the making, and it hasn't happened by chance.
Buddy… u were talking to the dumbest of the dumb. Literally shuttle bus drivers talking about dumbing people down 😂😂😂
@@PrinceOfTheCity1 Well he might have been driving that bus to finance his university studies... how about that thought?
@@PrinceOfTheCity1 Your wisdom will hopefully be realised with age. You can never judge someone's intellect or abilities on the basis of their occupation.
@@davidbrayshaw3529 I agree… that’s not the point. It’s the fact that someone driving a shuttle bus is complaining about people being dumbed down. I do agree that that has happened as well, however I don’t just say that publicly nor do I drive a bus
@@thomash3716 he could’ve but it’s more likely he is part of the problem he was complaining about
In 1984 Ronnie Reagan cut federal funding for education from K through graduate programs by 65% with the swipe of a pen in an executive order. Since that time, I have witnessed the dumbing down of the American population dramatically. This was done in the summer when Congress was on vacation. Think about this for a moment - every school system in the country had already contracted with teachers, administrators, all the support staff and all of a sudden they were faced with either massively cutting programs and coursework OR they could go to their local public and say they needed to raise local property taxes to make up the difference. Well, guess what happened? We now have a population that can't read or think their way out of a wet paper bag. A population so ignorant they don't understand that a tariff will affect them directly in their wallets dramatically. A population whose basic math skills are that of a third grade student today. The pathos is beyond the pall. Gothic ignorance only breeds more of the same.
Thanks for sharing it!! I was 3 years old that time !! 😂😂😂😂😂😂
And people continue embracing him for his "humor."
I was raised in 4 foster homes in the 80s after my dad died and my mom sent me away but kept my older brothers. I couldn't even CONCENTRATE in school long enough to understand beyond basic addition & subtraction. I reject the notion on here that because I suck at math I'm too stupid to know trump isn't fit for President.
And people can no longer write their own English language or respect it. Schools fail to teach and this election shows that fact
Reagan was there when the Soviet Union fell to pieces, but he was also the economic disaster that has brought down the American Empire. Look at England and it's British Empire, 2 world wars brought that down, the cost was astronomical and the losses immense, but now USA is imploding so that the number of Billionnaires can increase and those with such phenomonal wealth can more easily increase it exponentially without paying a fair share of taxes. Face it America Trickle Down Economics was the biggest conspiracy of recent times, but y'all can't decide that the world is a sphere.
Yes… beer, machismo, ignorance, the couch!
David, you're not being an asshole; you are absolutely right!! I wish more people would stand up for the truth.
No.. he's just being an elitist asshole. The idea that you cannot figure out how the prices work in the face of tariffs if you didn't complete high school is simply untrue. The voters know exactly what the tariffs are going to do, and what they will do politically. They know exactly what the economic effects of clamping down on unskilled immigration will be. For gods sake.. Trump put in 25% tariffs on steel.. and all the steel workers voted for Trump.. winning over key demographics. LOL
Truth my ass.
The left in west has been putting feelings and pathological empathy over truth for years.
Do you regularly wash it?🤔
He asshole number one .😂
There are so many reasons the American Empire is dead and has been dying for decades and the Education System might be the biggest reason!
Your preferred candidate paid for a music artist to twerk on stage... just think about that.
MAGA doesn’t believe in education, so you’re wrong.
In all honesty, it's only natural.
US, Russia and China. Once great powers, now are in their twilight years.
No empire rules forever.
Yeah and they don’t pay the teachers . How can teachers be going full time and still can’t afford rent? This country is a mess.
@@JessB009 Because working 2/3rds of a year isn't full time...
When you have a country that denigrates education and expertise, and is more consumed with being ignorant and rich and famous, this is what you get. Not all experts are worth much, not saying that. But our country just worships the wrong people. That’s not an education issue, it’s a character issue. That where the problem really is, in my mind. “A culture of nonthink”… nailed it, David.
Most wealth/resources on the planet and education is what priority?
this is a pretty good point I agree with you. If you would permit me to expand on your thoughts, I believe that education for the general masses is intentionally watered down because if you want to govern a lot of people you do not want them too educated just educated enough (essentially enough to read road signs and pay taxes)....you also want then distracted (TV, the internet, perhaps specifically social media and tic tock - which has the nice little ancillary benefit of also degrading mental health, easier to rule/govern/control/manipulate, people who are depressed and anxious) you also want them to be somewhat unstable with respect to the home and finances (as in being from a "broken" home, being a renter rather than owner and living paycheck to paycheck). I basically just described the American middle class since about 2000
That lack of character "MadeAmericaGreat". Equal rights only 60 years old. It wasn't illegal till 1978 to kidnap Native American children from the DeathMarchReservation for the ReEducationCamps ("Indian Boarding Schools") where mass child graves being found. (Biden was first to apologize just few weeks ago!)
Cornell *History* grad Bill Maher doesn't know USA had ReEducationCamps at all, much less that US had them before Mao was born AND after he died).
That lack of character "MadeAmericaGreat". Equal rights only 60 years old. It wasn't illegal till 1978 to kidnap Native American children from the DeathMarchReservation for the ReEducationCamps ("Indian Boarding Schools") where mass child graves being found. (Biden was first to apologize just few weeks ago!)
Cornell *History* grad Bill Maher doesn't know USA had ReEducationCamps at all, much less that US had them before Mao was born AND after he died..
I'm a librarian and I do research instruction for college students. I went to a business/tech class the other day and a couple of them seemed genuinely surprised/skeptical when I said research skills help you make more money, because you make your business and investment decisions off of hard data rather than biased opinions. Maybe no one ever told them that before. If they don't wanna learn, they deserve to be poor.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Absolutely right that you did. The answer to your question unfortunately is a very big, "YES!"
I am from the UK and watching what is happening in the US with despair. When I first heard about project 2025, the component that alarmed me more than anything else was getting rid of the Ministry of Education. Dictators need to keep much of their population uneducated, so that they do not critically think about their words, policies or intentions. It is very obvious to me that the US is currently on a downward path and those who open their mouths because they are concerned are instantly shut up as being unpatriotic.
I am trying to think of an alternative phrase from the acronym MAGA. The best, or worst, that I can come up with is Making America Goddam Awful. I am open to better suggestions.
Watching from Canada, I was stunned when I learned that Republicans have fought tooth and nail to keep critical thinking courses out of mandatory curriculum.
I wonder why ...
Are Republicans the only party that believes gods are real? Nope, plenty of Lefties teach their kids the same dumbSh1t but where they differ is Lefties teach kids that men are women if they say so. Both sides are full of CLOWNS.
They, Trump and his enablers want people to be uneducated so that they can use these people for their own interests. It's easier that way. It' s a part of their plan.
@@mandranmagelan9430 Lefties still think Trump colluded with Russia in 20. Critical thinking? I'll bet you think a 10 year old misdemeanor morphing into dozens of felonies happens all the time huh?
Firstly, they don’t even know what critical thinking is. 😂
I don’t even think the majority of the country could do the 8 x 12, forget about the decimal places.
Memorising the up to 12x table is very helpful, but when you forget, it gets much harder. I did - many years since I did it - so did 10x80 + 2x8 to get there.
But I very nearly screwed up the decimal places.
Anyone whose graduated high school can do 8 x 12 without there being decimal places. You're just talking stupid.
Each number minus 1, so everybody will understand, buddy 😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@Steveman27 the question was what's 20% of 112
he was using it as an example of how to solve something, it's not about the math as he pointed out.
Something you are struggling to understand it seems
I am a 45-year-old software developer. I froze initially thinking about the math problem presented. Lol. It’s not that we didn’t learn these things many years ago; it’s that, thanks to calculators, computers and smart phones, those mental math skills have atrophied significantly. I admit that
Didn't the Air force make people in it do math calculations by hand? I heard that somewhere......
I just remembered that one of Trump’s uncles was an electrical engineer, physicist and professor at MIT. His name was John Trump and Fred Trump (Donald’s father) hated how he was nerdy and I believe teased him about it. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in regards to Fred and Donald.
Yes, a calculator is no good if you don't know approximately what answer you expect.
@bobabubbletea393 Brit here. Yes, but he was not quite as great as Trumpy paints the picture. When the great Nikola Tesla died,he left behind a large collection of research papers. John Trump was asked to review them by MIT and rated them very poorly. Many say because they went over his head. Even today, scientists are discovering ideas in the papers.
But John Trump was the brightest of the Trump family and Mary comes a close second.
I'm an embedded software and data storage engineer and I have to kind of agree that the availability of calculators everywhere (even bash's $(()) syntax makes opening bc/octave sometimes unnecessary) in a normal working environment does make you a bit lazy and you find yourself not being used to doing calculations in your head. It's really about the tools we have at hand and I wasn't sure that declining mental math skills specifically correlate to critical thinking skills but then I corrected myself: Of course we have tools in our daily lives to help us out with our critical thinking skills when it comes to politics. They are called Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, etc. However these tools are not giving you a "correct" answer, it's just the answer that is most suitable to their audience.
So I have to return to my original position: We can be more productive with engineering tools and not be shy about admitting that we aren't as good at performing calculations in our head as our predecessors were, but we're likely more productive anyway because we know how to use our tools.
In politics it's different, as there's not always a right and wrong answer (sometimes there really is though, and facts matter!) and you can't rely on any tool giving you the "correct" information. You have to be educated enough to see through lies and wishful thinking that is being channeled to you through these media outlets and there's no shortcut. Education is everything here, and there's a reason that some politicians love the poorly educated.
I moved from NYC to NC and ended up getting a part time job at Walmart. I am no genius ( terrible at math) but I am capable of critical thinking. If I don’t understand something like policy I research it coming to my own conclusion or accepting the facts as they are. I was shocked to see how many of my coworkers were illiterate. I was also surprised at how most of them discouraged their children to attend college, telling me a job at Walmart or a factory is better. Every single person I worked with was a Trump supporter and if I tried debating with any of them it would eventually come down to me insulting their intelligence.
I did claw my way through two post-secondary courses of study and did well. But in those community college or trade school arenas, my impression was that a majority of students were just punching the clock, attending because they felt they had to have the diploma in order to find work. In theory & practice, "higher education" is a mercenary & ugly means of social & personal development
You’re not wrong. I’ve tutored dozens of college students. In mathematics and in almost every case, the student lacked an understanding of formal logic. In the years I’ve been helping students, math wasn’t their real problem; it was understanding logic.
I would be curious what you mean by logic. I struggled in school but the one subject I finally started improving on was actually math. But my logic skills remained as dead as any other skills. For me, it was Algebra. I think the reason I improved when I got to Algebra was because of the simple rules that govern it. If I had simple rules to follow I could do it. Otherwise logic doesn't seem to be something I was any better at than anybody else, almost all of whom did far better than I did.
@@dougschwieder3627 In mathematics, there are a lot of patterns and it requires some level of reasoning to solve a problem. Of course, there are a lot of rules, and it's important to understand why those rules hold true. While it's handy to have rote memorization for arithmetics (like memorizing your times tables), meaningful learning is also just as important (like for understanding how decimal numbers interact when you multiply or divide another decimal number). There are a lot of inferences that have to be made, and induction is something that is a bit tricky to get a proper grasp of.
What might REALLY need to be taught (Again) is Philosophy. But, yeah--basic reading comprehension skills would have to DRAMATICALLY improve, in order for THAT to happen, and in order for THAT to happen. someone is going to have to come up with a way to increase interest in such a "dry and "boring" and "irrelevant" subject as well as figure out a way to increase attention spans....Good luck with THAT. In the meantime perhaps old original Episodes of Star Trek featuring the Vulcan "Mr. Spock" and his penchant for, and deep understanding of, "Logic" will have to suffice...???... (Maybe even old episodes of the Big Bang Theory where we can all see pure logic as delivered by the likes of Sheldon Cooper and gang-minus PENNY of course--far smarter than me with JUST a high school education. that I barely received with something like a C average, and only one College prep class to my credit. And perhaps hope that the METAPHORICAL "Romulans" do NOT kick the asses of the metaphorical Vulcans, and perhaps by DEFAULT kick the LITERAL asses of less developed humanity, unless a metaphorical "Capt Kirk" comes along, and kicks the ass of a metaphorical "Khan", and TOTALLY destroys him, so he doesn't COME BACK to wreak havoc on Kirk himself again.....Unless of course he DOES have a dedicated crew of a new and refurbished USS Enterprise to back his ass up.... Complete with a dedicated Vulcan like Spock as First Officer....Again????!🙄🙄🙄🙄
We taught logic until progressives gained control over education. Aristotle is white. Learning about white men is "racist propaganda." (I wish I was joking)
Progressive also removed phonics in favor of the world word method. They directly caused reading comprehension issues.
People simply stop using logic when the choose Trump. Its not that they can't reason, they choose not to when it comes to Trump.
Yes there is a problem. The US has the lowest education level amongst the developped countries, the shortest life expectancy and the largest gap between poor and rich.
Yea but everyone has a gun 😅
@@duanedrouillard2495You moron!! 😱
@@duanedrouillard2495 Indeed. That was forgotten in the list: the US has the highest amount of mass shootings. Congrats?
You see it with the trolls on this channel. 300 word run on sentences. 😂🤔😟
@@judgegixxer Nah, they're channeling James Joyce.
Thank you David for addressing this important issue in America. 💙💙💙
Harris paid a music artist to twerk on stage during a campaign rally... just think about that.
@@ricardocabeza6006And Trump is a world-class A-Hole, as well as a RAPIST, repeated sexual predator, lifelong fraud, convicted felon, etc. So what’s your point?
Spot on. Keep speaking the truth; you have the skills to do it diplomatically.
I salute you, David Packman, for having the courage to say out loud and broadcast to millions what I bite my tongue NOT to ever say publically for fear of the likely response.
Same here.
What do you think the "likely response" would be?
Oh be quiet. You democrats have been calling people Hitler, garbage, and deplorable for almost 10 years now. You are playing victim now that you all have been cleanly beaten.
Why are you scared..... Lol. These people are idiots. They should know.
Trump:
“They’re eating the dogs”
Americans: “oH woRdS I’z UNderStaNd! truMp gOOd!”
Kamala:
“We’re giving a $25k tax credit to new business owners who start their business in an underrepresented neighborhood”
Americans: “wHat LadY say? Don’T trUst, shE SayS biG wordZ”
This...this is...this is actually a real thing and it might even be putting it conservatively. I worked retail like a decade ago and...boy...satire....no match for reality
I was raised and educated in Canada. I got a Bachelor's degree and became a teacher. ,. In 1985 I accepted a teaching job offer in California. The school district gave me a test to determine and verify my educational level of competency.... general reading comprehension, writing skills, math ability, and general (American) knowledge... It was at about a grade six level (by Canadian standards), I scored 100%. They were impressed. I was amazed by their expectation that a basic skills test was appropriate for a university graduate. This has affected my general attitude to American education ever since. Personally I suspect "education" in the USA is sadly lacking and is probably going to get worse given the current federal gong show...
And this is also exactly what Alberta wants.
That's Socialism for you.
don't judge America based on California standards LOL that place is trash
I'm Canadian too and I also have a lot of well educated and smart American friends. I'm not sure education or lack of is what is really driving this current political trend but it's not just happening in the US, it is happening in Canada too and Europe.... and Canada is right behind the US in the growing numbers of conservative right wing fanatics.
California has been a year behind since at least the 90s compared to the rest.
David Pakman for Congress 🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤
I’ve been saying this since MAGA started in ‘15! Thank you!
Me too. I could tell the guy was a poser from 100 miles away. Minute he opened his mouth I knew he was a fake.
This actually started with the tea party opposition before the 2010 midterms.
@@jamespppyacek342 I didn't. Within weeks of him running I did.
Same
Im in maga country and everyone around me says the tariffs will bring prices down... but when i interrogate their reasoning for this, it always comes down to "because trump says so" and when i ask why they trust trump, they say "because they prayed about it and god told them too".
Ouch. That's painfully stupid.
Damn, I'd take mental damage dealing with that.
God told them 'too'?
Special kind of stupid
They really think Trump is the best God could come up with? 😅
Looking at the situation from a country with 99,9 percent literacy... People in Europe and especially in Scandinavia cannot understand this. We do not pay for schooling / education. We do not pay for university studies. There are very few private schools. Of course it is upto each individual how much you read. Libraries are very popular and there is one or more in even the smallest towns, in the countryside there are library busses. It is in the interest of the whole country that people read and understand. Now reading is promoted because young boys do not read enough. Trump says that he loves the uneducated. It is in his interest that people do not understand politics, foreign trade, history, health care.
Correct. Adding further to your comment, it's now seen that being "anti" intellectual and anti-facts means that you are against the deep state, the elite, and the establishment class.
He has become the beacon of truth and justice to millions of his followers. They regard him as being the Batman that will bring justice to a system that is rigged against them and that is pro-immigrant, pro-LGBTQ, and pro-communism.
Add in the sports team mentality and that is probably only a fraction of the reason why we are in this mess. Lack of education and critical thinking and lack of civics, US and world history also have played a large hand
"We do not pay for schooling..." 😂
Who's the ignorant one?
@@benjaminmyers5299what she meant is that besides paying their taxes they don’t pay for school because is public. Here you pay for taxes and education if you want to have a good education. Statistics don’t lie. We live in a sea of ignorance. The first step to solve a problem is to admit we have one.
Ah, but you’re socialists, and that’s *baaaaaaad* in ‘Murca.
Europe needs to decouple it's self from the United States before American political culture warps European Politics.
Blaming the uneducated is standard procedure for the college set. Let's don't mention the vicious class war of corporate liberals.
I’ve been a public elementary school teacher in the United States for over ten years, and I can say without a doubt that our curriculum is deeply flawed and often confusing-especially when it comes to math. Teachers are at their wits’ end trying to teach 7-year-olds ten different ways to add and subtract. Every day, we introduce a new strategy, but the kids never get a chance to fully master any of them. It’s frustrating.
While I generally avoid conspiracy theories, the current system feels like it’s setting children up to fail, making them dread school because it’s so difficult and boring. It almost seems intentional-like a deliberate dumbing down of future generations. I wish I could focus on teaching kids to read, write, and do math in a way that makes sense and sticks, but if we stray from the scripted curriculum, we risk being written up or even fired.
I agree with David Pakman that, unfortunately, many Americans today are not well-informed. And when you look at someone like Donald Trump, it's hard not to see him as a symptom of a broader issue-an example of what happens in an under-educated society.
We must go back to the Old Math. It was good enough for Einstein.
I hear you. My best friend works in special education and her main grievance is what has happened since the "no child left behind" standardized testing came along. It has pigeonholed the way teachers educate geared at these standardised tests.
Teaching 7-year-olds ten different ways to add and subtract is criminal behavior! I mean that! How to confuse children? Just teach them The Best Method till it is their method and then introduce them to one other way as a quick method when they are 9 and get to higher numbers.
Are school teachers too nice? Stick up for those kids and yourselves and claim your territory back! Strike if need be. Come together and stand strong against those, that ruin your country's education. I believe you have a moral duty to do so.
You're not wrong and that's by design. The North American educational system is refried garbage. Especially, in special Ed.
They're often overcrowded, underfunded, and the subjects can be confusing and boring.
Everything that you have mentioned is true and it's all by design.
@@davidlafleche1142... No, we need to go and restructure the entire North American educational system. It needs more money, it needs to be less crowded, and the subject matter should be comprehensive.
And there needs to be a less anti-intellectualism encouraged in our society. We need to encourage children to enjoy learning and to question and to not feel ashamed of making mistakes if they don't get an answer right
I'm from Manitoba, Canada. I attended college in Iowa. I remember having Sunday dinner at a classmate's house. When I told them I'm from Manitoba, less than 700 miles due north of them, they clearly had no idea where it was. They asked, "What providence is that in?" Well, the word is "province", and Manitoba *IS* one, it's not *in* one. But it's no secret that most Americans know very little about any place outside of the USA, so I wasn't too bothered by that. But then they joked that the US should just take over Canada as the 52nd state.......smh. Being unable to multiply .8 x .12 is the least of your problems.
I was flying through Miami once and started getting interrogated by one of the security men about where I'm going and why.
I said I'm from Scotland and he asked "where's that?" I figured he wouldn't have known where Europe is, so I literally pointed North East and said, "about 3,000 miles that way."
I wish we could split the US into a northern Democratic half and a southern Republican half. Then the north could join up with Canada. And the South can just get what they want and only hinder themselves.
Why do you assume that Americans know whereabouts in the US? I'm not joking, unfortunately.
This is perfectly illustrated by J D Vance (a college graduate) standing in front of a microphone and saying Hatians are from Hatia.
Of course, he paid for his degree (well, Peter Thiel paid for it), but it still says something about our education system and the permeating feeling that having an education doesn't matter.
@@jplant1414 I once lived across the border from International Falls, Minnesota. So close you could throw something across the river (almost 😁). Let’s say 700 yards (for our American friends who are challenged by the metric system), not 700 miles as in your story. A short bridge joined the two towns. I remember getting a haircut on the American side, chatting with the barber as you do. The person had no concept of Canada beyond “cold, good fishing, good hunting”. Mentioned that I had just moved from Ottawa. That got a “where’s that?”. Ahhh…the CAPITAL of Canada, the country you can spit to from here. Generalizations are not fair to good people who do not fit the oversimplification, but as a population the stereotype that Americans are self-centred (sorry, “centered”), isolationist, and not well informed about anything beyond their borders is not without some truth. It also comes through in arrogance (‘Murica’s the best country in the world, don’t need to travel, nothin’ in the rest of the world worth seein’ or carin’ about). Again, there are plenty of good Americans who are not like this, but there are at least 70 million or so who are, as the last election indicates. I hope those who voted for Trump to lower prices and reduce inflation enjoy their tariffs.
People take pride in being dumb. When I correct someone’s grammar online, instead of getting a “thank you”, I get things like, “It must be nice to know everything” or “This isn’t English class”. Don’t blame the schools. Blame willful ignorance.
Nobody likes grammar nazi’s.
Don't blame the schools...okay but the US has scored SHOCKINGLY low when it comes to education for decades now. From what I understood from what our teachers told us in high school, was that if we (our class) didn't pass the standardized tests, the school funding would be cut, and not only would school be more difficult due to lack of resources, but they "would make sure" that our time was more difficult, because we were the cause of the funding being cut...guess what happened? This was a direct result of the Bush-era "no child left behind" bullshit.
My pet peeve is idiots that can't make a distinction between THEIR , THERE , and THEY'RE . Just because they all sound the same - they all have different meanings and uses .
People are too lazy to try and educate themselves about which form is correct for the message they are trying to convey . I have gotten replies that state " grammar nazi " or
" you know what I meant " . Yes , I know what you intended to say - but , I'm not stupid , and I have no patience with stupid people . MAKE A DAMN EFFORT TO BE BETTER !
Honestly, the correcting of grammer is insignificant compared to educating or bringing an awareness to a subject matter/current events. Pick your battles. Just my 2 cents. 🤷♀️
I blame neither. I blame over forty years of Republicans voting against and underfunding schools at every opportunity.
David, THANK YOU for posting this! As a former teacher, I can attest to the fact that many Americans lack the basic critical thinking skills. I once had a 12th grade student tell me she was never going to Italy because she was afraid to fly. I told her that she didn’t have to fly. Just take the bridge that goes from Elizabeth, NJ to Rome. Her response was where exactly was the exit for the bridge……! If you present an idea convincingly enough, you can get people to believe anything. I said to the student that her question shouldn’t have been where was the exit, but how could there be a bridge that crosses the Atlantic ocean!
America isn't a country. It's a business. The modern conservative movement insured that. No, that's not a misspelling.
Thank you, I realized this when I moved away. The hardest working people who enjoy the least benefits of all the G7. Now Elon is here to gut the little they do have.
I’d be happy to consider a Democrat candidate as long as s/he agrees that it’s wrong for biological males to use restrooms and locker rooms of biological females.
US Inc. 💵
@@Hornsfan64 I'd be happy to consider a democratic candidate supporter a real supporter as long as you agree *none of this stuff about transgender people matter* in every day life and you people need to move on. No one is forcing you or anyone around you to be trans. How *exactly* do you get hurt, with privacy *everywhere* in bathrooms around the country, if someone who identifies as the opposite gender to their biological sex wants to use a bathroom of the gender they identify as? Are they going around preying on people in bathrooms? Absolutely not. It's not affecting you in the least. You need to realize it's just **not an issue**
@@Hornsfan64Liar.
As someone who has studied in higher education overseas recently, I'm happy that this is finally starting to have the conversation it deserves.
Calling Americans stupid may not have the desired effects it seems to desire?
The Pig Headed Bastids will explain how they are the smartest individuals on the Planet.
I stole most of my Education sitting in on classes in Universities.
They never gave me a piece of paper to prove I am capable of conforming.
I got most of my education from doing business in the North American Continent over the last 50 years.
The waste of time that smartypants individuals sites presents are pretty futile to waste time on.
Engaging in face to face discussion seems to promote a lot more understanding.
US prioritizes money over people. This is why it is the richest country in history. That comes at a price. Absolutely everything is for sale. My wife and I moved to Greece in September as we FIREd this year. The culture is so different. We live very differently. People are not trying to rip you off at every turn. I paid $50 for a doctor’s visit with no insurance. Bought medication for $2 that costs 10x in the US. Car dealership sold us car without haggling or pushing things on us. We walked away to think about our decision for a week. We are building a house and no contractor is trying to rip us off us. These are just a few of the examples how different things are around the world. We are so happy to be out of US.
Money, constant competition and individualism. It’s exhausting.
@ It is by far the best country to make money in. However, far from the best country to live in.
Yeah but you're living off of investments which contribute to the money seeking problem you're talking about.
@@i_like_beer-o2f How so? We worked hard for over 30 years and invested wisely, living far below our means so we can pull this off. When everyone is buying g]big houses and new cars every few years we saved. Now everyone we know will work for another 15-20 years while we enjoy life as it should be.
Hey fellow Rangers fan.
Sadly David is spot on about critical thinking. I had a friend who for years hated Trump but ending up voting for him in part because he couldn't afford steak for his family anymore, among other things. When I asked him what Biden did to cause prices to go up he couldn't explain it to me. And he had no coherent answer as to how Trump was going to bring down prices either. He was just mad, and now we have Trump.
I´m going to say something brutal, most people aren´t very clever and never have been. I don´t agree with all of David´s takes, but he´s a very smart person. Most people are not that clever, easily lead and easily fooled.
I'm 81 years old and went through one of the best educational systems in the country many years ago. I've seen the changes with my own eyes. When I was a kid, we had fun sitting around and talking about music, art, science, history, and literature. Yes, FUN! I founded a club whose members did that every Friday night for three years. We craved all we could get. All my friends did. Within just a few years (it really got rolling about the JFK assassination), I noticed that people didn't seem to care much about such things anymore. Now I'm seeing everywhere I look that the educational system in the USA is completely destroyed along with people's ambitions and values. The average person no longer knows much of anything and is incapable of carrying on an interesting conversation. A consequence of that is that they don't have any defenses against misinformation and are inclined to believe anything. In fact, today most people in this part of the world tend to believe what they want to believe regardless of what is provably true. I see no immediate solution to it.
"The average person no longer knows much of anything and is incapable of carrying on an interesting conversation." YES! Even educated people are almost impossible to talk to. There are exceptions ... but it does seem to have gotten worse with time.
You said it - people believe whatever they want, evidence or facts be damned. That’s a tough problem to solve
Along with decimating the education system, we also have to recognize that the world population has doubled. Classroom sizes are regularly 40+ students (40 is considered lucky these days) with 1 teacher. Add to that the idiotic "no child gets left behind" and the teacher now has even less time for students wanting to advance. They have to spend 80% of their time with the kids that should have been left behind, instead of being able to focus on providing a good education. Yup, again falls to gov't funding, but also, teachers just can't keep up. The result is dumber and dumber humans that just keep getting a pass to the next grade.
I grew up knowing that freedom was nothing more than educating myself.
I was extremely fortunate to receive an excellent public education in California during the 1970’s and 80’s. As an academic for over 20 years, teaching in various states, I can attest: the ability to discern, to think critically, and to hold attention with complex material…these “abilities” have dropped significantly. We teachers, professors, academics have all noticed changes in students.
Screens. Screen addictions via myopic-forming algorithms.
Systematic DE-FUNDING of Education! By republicans. For decades! (Especially in red states! And it shows in the electoral map!)
Why? Because it is easier to control an under-educated population.
Celebrated ANTI-intellectualism.
Anti-Science. Anti-education. Anti-FACTS and EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE.
(Folks, the “celebration” is by greedy billionaires who continue to manipulate you to vote AGAINST YOUR SELVES!)
Increased costs in everyday living (while most wages remained stagnant for decades ) keep people too preoccupied in their survival to read, research, learn factual information.
Celebrated “SPECTACLE”-type entertainment. Over SERIOUS INQUIRY AND SELF-GOVERNANCE!
So much mind-numbing…..this was, and remains, intentional.
By seriously BAD people.
Private schools are actually, on average, worse, because most are religious schools and will teach their religious views over science.
The ones in South Carolina are primarily about segregation. The ones kicked out for pregnancy or discipline issues end up in public school and can’t read.
Private schools are selective - they can pick and choose who they accept & kick out any that have issues. Whereas public school has to take everyone. Even so, with that ability to select, although they do do better in test scores, it's not hugely better, which should raise questions about what they're teaching & how.
My daughter had a high school biology teacher who was teaching creationism. At a public school. As a result she hated biology and said none of it made any sense at all. Until she took an intro course in college. Then she loved it, and the world made sense again. Now she’s a biochemist.
All the religious schools I went to had higher educational standards. The parents expected higher standards and many of different religions paid for their children to attend. Yes religion was a feature but bearable
I disagree...with religious schools, the answer must always be the god-thingie.......so they fair much better in getting the answer correct, eh!
Not understanding history is the problem.
Choosing not to understand and empathized are the problem.😢
Not *wanting* to understand history. 😢
...ia A problem...
His point is, too many people have no understanding of much of anything. And proud of that fact. Every time I heard the phrase, "I'm not gonna do all that" when told to read the directions, my brain would just about explode. Ignorance isn't something to be proud of. First time you attempt to do something, you are ignorant of how/why/what could go wrong. It's partly how you learn. Reading the directions reduces the probability of failure. But right back to the start...if you only read at 6th grade level, directions probably won't help you. Ton of dyslexic men out there.
@@cs292 The republicans are the party of Lincoln. People like Laura Ingraham, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Matt Walsh and Megyn Kelly freed the slaves from the Liberal progressive Democrats like AOC and Bernie Sanders - average American voter in 2024.
Yes there is something wrong with this country.
There is also a lack of humility. Another enormous problem.
Humility is the first step of thinking critically, which starts by questioning one’s own assumptions.
@@erikolson4598 And this comment section of Pakman exemplifies the lack of introspection,retrospection and critical thinking LOL.
It starts with humility....knowing you don't know...then begin the decades long process of knowing that IF done right will be a lifetime achievement that never ends!
There has always been an anti-intellectual streak in American culture. My favorite quote on this topic is that a voter told Adlai Stevenson, " Every thinking American will vote for you," & his answer; "Therefore, Madame, I shall not get elected."
It is a weakness in our culture.
Adlai. Probably auto correct.
@@juliettebobcat704Thanks for catching it. Auto correct is bleh.
I don’t think it’s arrogant to bemoan the loss of basic math and reasoning in Americans. I was bad at math in early ‘60s grade school but learned practical arithmetic working a cash register before they had calculators in them. An item would be 20% off and I just had to figure it out or lines would form. I was attentive to arts, language and 20th century history in HS however, and saw what Trump was from a mile off. I blame Republicans for creating this idiocracy.
A lot of us saw what Trump was the minute we saw him, and just can't understand why others don't.
@itsvanglock, propaganda, if a person only watches one news source and it appeals to their biases they're unlikely to think critically of it even if they're capable, its just how people's work.
Yes let's double down on insulting voters. That worked so well a few weeks ago. Yet you guys wonder why yall lost big. 😂 Keep it up and don't change please.
@@S1D3W1ND3R015
It's important to distinguish between deliberate insults, and I'm not saying there haven't been any, and unpalatable facts.
Trump is a douchebag. That is a fact. Maybe you can see it and voted for him anyway. But voting for a douchebag because you feel insulted is hardly the way to make the country a better place.
@istvanglock7445 🤣Please keep this up. We want you guys to be oblivious and double down. Anyway have a great day. 4 years baby
Watched some great documentaries from Adam Curtis recently including ‘Can’t get you out of my head’. We are ALL dumb, global problems are now so difficult to solve that everyone has retreated into fantasy and is hyper-focused on themselves, the only thing they can control.
It’s pretty obvious that the more educated folks lean left. The uneducated lean right. That’s a generalization of course but it fits in my circle of friends and family.
Seems like you guys shouldn't have any problems paying off your student loans then, since you're so smart.
Educated does not equal smart. The most clueless people I know have PhD's...that is an abject fact.
@ college was cheap in the 70’s. No loans needed. Not so today. Grandkids have no chance.
@@Zeett09but you guys are so smart, and MAGA is so dumb. You can figure it out.
It's pretty obvious that only incredibly stupid people live in the USA.
The education system is broken and now that Trump is going to eliminate the Department of Education it could be beyond repair.
Oh Phuck, the education system needs a complete overhaul.
The American education system has been beyond repair for 248 years
Ignorant people are easier to manipulate and control. Which has been the Republican agenda with the US schooling system for the past few decades.
There will still be schools, however it will be more difficult to enforce what were federal regulations, if you have kids, move to a blue state if you can, and make sure to pay attention who is on your school boards and your state department of education, and push for a Dem Congress in two years to block this insanity.
I world of reading and knowledge in a handheld device, yet millions are still uneducated
Reminds me a book publised 1838 in Bern, Switzerland ("Leiden und Freuden eines Schulmeisters" by Jeremias Gotthelf)
An elementary school teacher fictional biography in rual areas near Bern - poorly ediucated he worked in poor villages, low incomes for teachers - where teachers leave pupils poorly educated, so that once adult they need the teachers help, for writing a letter to anything beyond elementary arithmetics, starting at multiplications - and have to pay the teacher for.
Later in his career that teacher could move to a wealthy village, where to his surprise not only boys but also girls learned to read and to write.
I’ve been saying this for about a decade. Politics aside, the ignorant masses now seem to take pride in being dumb.
Who are the "ignorant masses"?
@@TeddyMonka-d1git was reported that people voted for GW Bush because they felt they could have a beer with him, that's an uninformed way to vote.
People without the capacity to think critically, people who lack empathy, people so disengaged they’ve literally turned into human shaped animals. This makes them vulnerable to manipulation and easy to herd into the ballot box ultimately getting them to vote against their best interests. Dumb people, of every demographic, that’s who.
Yes, when they say something stupid it's followed by giggles!
@@TeddyMonka-d1gpeople like you
The anti-science, anti-education, selfish mindset in the current US population is staggering. And the lowering of education standards since the 1950's is just making things worse. When people are actually PROUD of their ignorance of basic math, science, medicine, engineering, economics and literature, you KNOW a country is going into decline.
There are plans to get rid of the department of education!!!😮
It is hard to agree with this, but I do. Sad. I do not think the "50s" were better somehow... we have everything at our fingertips now -- less excuse for ignorance. Still, people relish going their own way and hating self change.
"The anti-science, anti-education, selfish mindset in the current US population is staggering." In contrast, education is highly valued in Asia. As a result, the U.S. is in the process of handing world leadership to China on a silver platter.
@@arewecrazyyet As the original comment states: education standards have been dropping since the 1950s. The Department of Education was created in 1980, and its predecessor (the Office of Education) was limited to recording statistics and histories of US educational institutions. Whether education is better left to the states or the federal government is an interesting political debate, but the fact is that increasingly bloated federal oversight has NOT improved the situation since 1980.
America used to be number 1 in math and reading. Now we're 6th in reading, which is still pretty good. But we're at 26 when it comes to math.
Thank you for speaking the truth. This is why Trump appeals to a lot of people. He speaks in a simple way they understand and they have been taught to despise the highly educated. It makes them feel better about themselves.
So, true. Sad but true.
all of society now mocks the 'nerds' who do well in school and are eager to learn, in most of the rest of the world it's celebrated,
Bingo!!! ✨
Elon musk is a genius though. How is he in Trump camp then?
@@ad8447 _"Elon musk is a genius though. How is he in Trump camp then?"_
Because Musk is *_at most_* a genius at finding the right people to do the job. He's _almost_ as much an idiot grifter as Trump, and they both owe their "success" to the finances that they got from their parents.
David, this may be the most important episode you've put out yet. and that is saying alot!
I want to point out that teachers have been screaming into the void for years now that students are passing through middle/high school without basic math and literacy skills
I want to point out that teachers are some of the lowest performers passing through our system of higher education, in which upwards of 40% of students require remediation upon matriculation.
A lot of the reason are these dumbass teachers...
@@Cristian-g9v6x I just re-read your comment five times and I still have no idea what your trying to say. If you are not a robot, use the word ferret in your next response pls.
A good reason to get rid of the Department of Education and teachers union.
@@topherbec7578 and how is that supposed to work?
Ding ding ding! This is exactly it. The corporations and politicians succeeded in getting rid of the people's ability to think critically.
And also the public education system has been so dumbed down that teachers are strongly encouraged or even forced to make sure every student passes no matter what. You wouldn't believe some of the dumb dumbs in my graduating class that magically graduated even though they failed every test and often skipped class. The system is failing many of us and we are seeing the results of that now.
Yes. That's exactly what they do in communist countries plus modern Russia, China and Nth Korea. The US is no different to them
The fact that people get angry when your try to correct or educate them is all you need to know, and understand that something is fundamentally wrong.
"you're trying".
No offense. Just trying to help. 🙂
I'm from Romania and I didn't get bullied for being a girl or middle eastern or bi, I got shit for having good grades.
the boys in my class would beat each other if any knew the answer to a teacher's question. and played games like hit the nuts.
it was only at university that I met other ppl that appreciated intelligence and hard work, that consumed art and vegetables and low fat food. that cared how taxes work.
most of the country can't and doesn't want to work for a degree even though education is free here. there's nothing wrong with wanting to continue your family's farm...but a veterinary or agriculture course would probably help....heck even law or accounting. you'd be running a business after all.
@@Zett76 Just a typo. He probably intended 'when you try'.
@@qwadratix that sounds right. Thanks!
It is not only the US that has the problem, I know many people who will not admit
they are wrong, they have weak underdeveloped egos.
The "dumbs" outnumber us. Like history. People have no clue about human history and can't tell you where other countries are. We are figuratively no better than Afghan villagers when it comes to knowledge of the world we live in.
Im Canadian, went to university in US.
Was appalled at the general ignorance of other kids. The lack of general intelligence, I'll never forget.
At a Canadian house party, people stand around w drinks in their hands. At an American party they're hanging off the roof, running naked, and starting fights. ...
Canadian house party sounds like a blast 😐
Oh gosh yes. I went to minot state and my classmates qere.from all over the US. It was like watching 7th graders. Very shocking
@@christianpetersen163 American parties sounds like a real life reenactment of an American Pie movie. Shit movie I feel sorry people with so little intellect that they find those sort of movies funny.
So you seriously think it is possible to judge the level of national IQ by behaviour at house parties you happen to have attended? Maybe your IQ needs examining.
Sounds more like an army party than a university party.
This actually proves a very good point about America. Our education and school systems are clearly broken and have failed us, and this year's election proved that.
Brit here.
They are broken because one political party does not believe in education.
Education is about to get worse.
the dumbing down started before internet so I agree
It is NOT the "education and school systems." It it up to US to continue to educate ourselves, throughout adult life. Knowledge doesn't stay intact and whole forever in our memory. And expecting people to remember everything they learned in high school and college, without any review, is absurd.
tell the teachers to teach math instead of gender studies.
European here. I can say that you are absolutely spot on American’s grade level. Even though most Americans that travel to Europe are at least middle class, I am appalled at the ignorance they display about almost any topic we discuss, be it current world events, simple geography or anything else. Most Europeans even know more about America, on all levels, than most American natives. This is why there is so many videos on You tube about Americans making a fool of themselves. Very sad to see.
Back in 2020, there was a US citizen who called me out for what I had
posted on You Tube, saying because I am European, I knew nothing about
the US and should not post comments. After I made it clear that I can
name every State and their capitol cities, he had had enough.
To be fair, this nation has always been rather dim.
"woman" doesn't appear once in any founding document, except in context of ownership.
This nation has had zero amendments to our Constitution since the 1970's. We are literally stuck in the past.
This. I've had to educate some US Americans on their OWN COUNTRY. It's wild.
All of my Australian colleagues are significantly more informed about American politics than average Americans.
@@johngodley256 If I had a pound for every time an American told me to shut up (usually accompanied by some jibe about drinking tea) because I had no place commenting on American issues I'd be a rich man. For a nation obsessed with freedom, and constantly banging on about their first amendment rights, they sure don't like others being free to comment!
Its not just education. If 50-60% of the information the public receives from podcasts and social media is highly biased or outright false, then no one is going to be making good decisions anyway.
Remember… A&W’s 1/3 Burger promotion failed in the 1980s because people thought a 1/4 pounder was bigger.
No way !
LOL
@@gowdsake7103Way.
@@gowdsake7103 😅
@@gowdsake7103 I just googled it: it really happened.
Q: What borders on stupidity?
A: Canada and Mexico.
Lol hence they don’t want intelligence to migrate here 😅
Okay, you're not wrong, I just...
@@NWPaul72 ..can't
That made me laugh loudly, bravo sir
What a bizarre comment
I posted a comment a few days ago and was admonished for using "big words." The words in question?misogyny...xenophobia...anti-intellectualism...verbiage. Yea...Houston we have a problem.😑
indisputably verbally garrulous. Maybe your discursive suddenly became meaningful and they developed hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
@gowdsake7103 aaawww...did mommy buy you a thesaurus for Christmas last year??😆😆😆
Awwww, you broke their little vacuous brains.
@@gowdsake7103I must 👍
Yeah I was watching a podcast the other day, Andrew something or other, and he and all the comments were lambasting a guy behind the camera for being being intellectual, pretentious, and emotional. They were all hyped about ganging up on him, mocking him, and trying to get him to cry. Their friend and colleague. Because MAGA.
I agree with you completely. Voters are in for a rude awakening because many believed the soundbites/blatant misrepresentations they were fed by the former president.