Why are most americans so politically ignorant?

Question

I mean, most Americans think Socialism is government control, and only a rare few even know what a Left-Libertarian is. There are many more examples, unfortunatly, I am too lazy to post them, so I am giving a source on the political ignorance of Americans.

http://www.uvm.edu/~dguber/POLS234/articles/gilens2.pdf

Answer 1

It is raw emotion with nothing in the way of logic and common sense!

Answer 2

Well socialism is government control. I mean in a socialist state who makes all the decisions about who shall have what and who needs what, and who will provide what others need. Freedom and socialism are mutually exclusive. So it would be impossible to be a leftist and a libertarian.

Answer 3

Because we have had it so good for so long. This IS the greatest society and standard of living that has ever existed. People become complacent and are ignorant of about 90% of the way the rest of the planet actually lives.

All other country's can have what we have. We do not covet it. It is written down in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. We don't want anything for it. They can have it.

Our own citizenry does not understand hunger.

Answer 4

Because they enjoy their ignorance. They have friends who tell them what to think, so they adopt this unquestioningly.

But I am curious about the idea of left libertarian. Since Left is generally increase in government control of your life, how can that be libertarian? In fact, the difference between the Religious Right and the current version of liberal is just which rooms in your house they want the government out of.

Democrats want the government out of your bedroom and into your living room to tell you what to watch and think, into your kitchen to tell you what to eat your bathroom to tell you what toilet to use and how to use it, and throughout your house what kind of lights to use. Oh and I forgot the garage where they tell you what to drive. How or what parts of that would be considered libertarian?

Answer 5

look, i know that socialism is government owning or controlling the means of production. That fascism is fusion of business and government. That totalitarianism is just pointyheadspeak for tyranny. The thing is, the semantics here, at least to me are just that- semantics. Unimportant. If it isnt Liberty Enhancing it is bad. Its really that simple. Call it whatever you want.

Answer 6

The apathy born such a long time ago has now grown to what they cant defeat.



Vain distractions are what keep the system going. It is what keeps the people from communicating, informing and educating each other.

Answer 7

Not ignorant enough to think that a "left-libertarian" is a viable animal.

Answer 8

Let's be honest. Americans are ignorant on the majority of subjects.

Answer 9

Most Americans aren`t in the democratic party ! Herein is the path to your answer by showing the political knowledge of Tea Party Members ~~~ http://youtu.be/GizNwzKo3n8 . http://youtu.be/6Eib2di9bq4 . http://youtu.be/gMCwtBcV_rE

Answer 10

Americans are not!! Just the liberals/democrats and everyone leaning left by one degree!!!

Answer 11

Germany is a socialist country and they've consistently have fared better throughout the years than the US.



Almost all of our national pride is derived from our social endeavors. NASA and our military are two good examples.



In fact much of Europe and Scandinavia contain countries that are a blend of social and capitalist endeavors. They also have the most successful and happiest people in the world. In the link below notice that America ranked a dismal14th.



http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/14/world-happiest-countries-lifestyle-realestate-gallup-table.html

Answer 12

LOL



and tell me... can you tell ONE single time that socialism is applied at a state level, without turn itself in a murderer dictatorship?

Answer 13

Whenever I hear someone calling others ignorant I get a good laugh. That is a definite sign that the asker suffers from that condition

Answer 14

It is our union teachers fault. We are not very well educated. All we know is we are supposed to like progressives, whatever that is.

Answer 15

There's also an anti-higher education movement & an effort to rewrite history...put 2 & 2 together

Answer 16

Ok, then lets have a Brit give his opinion of Socialism.



"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."



- Winston Churchill

Answer 17

Wow, a lazy socialist. I am terribly surprised.

Answer 18

Conservatives and the Tea Party don't like College and Education.



That's why they don't know what Socialism means!

Answer 19

A leftist libertarian. Now I have seen it all.

Answer 20

because they do not accept other cultures and they do not understand that in some countries Liberal Democracy doesn't work.

Answer 21

Give it up, kid.