from the Working Life blog:
People Believe Stupid Stuff When Leaders Regurgitate Nonsenseby Jonathan Tasini
Friday 20 of May, 2011
I have a good friend who is always sputtering about "how terrible our educational system is because how can people think this?", whatever the preposterous "this" of the moment is. But, I see it differently. Sure, the stupid, mindless invective streaming from FOX News and much of the traditional press is central to framing issues. But, if our elected leaders wouldn't spew complete and utter nonsense, then, the people would hold different views. That is, if every day you turn on the tube or read the newspaper or find info online that pours out of the mouths of people who claim to represent your interests, you are going to believe the same crap. This is probably a point many people agree with but this all became obvious after mulling over a poll from this past week.
.....(snip).....
The most interesting points here are not the match-ups in the 2012 presidential election--it's far to soon, in my view, to glean much of use. The poll was fascinating in one question: what do you think Congress should focus on?
No surprise: #1 was the economy and jobs, with 28 percent of the people thinking that was crucial
#2 was government spending and the budget deficit, at 20 percent.
#3 Education--11 percent
#4 Gas and energy prices--8 percent
#5 Medicare and Social Security--7 percent
#6 Health Care costs--6 percent
#7 The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan--5 percent
#8 Illegal immigration--3 percent
#9 Taxes--2 percent
#10 Terrorism and homeland security--2 percent
#11 Crisis in Libya--barely registered.
Astonishing. But, revealing. The political leadership of this country has convinced the public of a crisis that does not exist. We have people obsessed about the debt and deficit "crisis" even thoughit is an economic myth.
Most Americans would never have rated the phony debt and deficit "crisis" as a problem if had not been for a bi-partisan chorus--Republicans, Democrats, The White House and Congress--flogging a myth as phony as Bigfoot. ...........(more)
The complete piece is at:
http://www.workinglife.org/blogs/view_post.php?content_id=15185
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
