Are Liberals/Progressives Smarter Than a 5th Grader in Economics?

Question

Liberals scored terrible on 8 basis economic questions. Conservatives scored best in this recent Zogby Poll.

Polls are a good indicator don't you think?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703561604575282190930932412.html

Answer 1

I'm a real economist (have a degree in it) and I can say with great assurance that libs need a "helping hand" when dealing with economic matters.



The problem is that they react with emotion rather than logic on economic issues. They want to "fix" poverty in America, so the solution? Create the "Great Society." Now, thanks to subsidizing poverty, we have generations of poverty.



Too often, they make knee-jerk reactions without thinking about the economic consequences.

Answer 2

For the most part. I cant believe that some of the contestants dont know the very basic things. I like Jeff Foxworthy and I enjoy seeing the kids and their abundance of enthusiasm. I've been a contestant on some shows and know it's not the same as sitting at home, but still-I hope I'd be smarter than a 5th grader.

Answer 3

Only on a biased conservative economics exam.



It's sort of like cosmology in the middle ages. So long as they professed that the earth was flat and at the center of the universe, mapmakers could make true maps and charts of the earth and stars for navigation. Of course, people like Galileo who wouldn't go along, got roasted.



In America, conservatives all profess that lowering taxes and decreasing government spending and services is the only way to run an economy. Then when elected, they quote Friedman to lower their taxes, follow Keynes to increase government spending, and try to roast the Democrats who explain why that doesn't work.

Answer 4

Would not call the survey 'basic economic questions'. It read more like basic republican talking points. Am I surprised that more liberals disagreed with the talking points? Not at all.

Answer 5

polls are generally a good indicator, the simpler they are...



this one is not only complex, but has very odd methodology... unlike any poll I've ever heard of...



it ONLY counts "very wrong answers"... and doesn't count just wrong answers? an answerer could LITERALLY put "I don't know" and it would be counted as "correct"



the other thing is... all the questions it asks agrees with conservative talking points... yet I've had conversations with conservatives about some issues where they disagree with some economic issues...



so, why did this study only pick questions that cons agree with?



have you had economics classes? did you agree with EVERYTHING in that class? I seriously doubt you did...

Answer 6

Oh! now the questions are slanted. This poll was test. Liberals failed on the monopoly question because of their understanding deficiency. Monopoly means the only provider. Not the largest provider. When you use logic you don't always need math.

Answer 7

Those questions themselves are flawed.



For example, the question about Standard of Living. As a liberal who has studied economics I know that the answer they are looking for relates to GDP growth, which has grown. However, I also know that the entry level wage has stagnated since 1979 and that in order to grow personal income more Americans are working more jobs with more hours than in the past 50 years. So, I wouldn't answer the answer they are looking for simply because I recognize that the Standard of Living is more than just GDP.

Answer 8

No.



Tell a classroom full of 5th graders that the entire class must go clean out a barn (manure) as a project and each person will make a pile of the manure they shovel out of the stalls. Tell them that the person who cleans out the most manure, thus making the biggest pile, will get the most reward,. Midway through the project, tell them that they must then share their reward with everyone in the class, even those who did not shovel any manure



The entire group will immediately lay down their shovels.

Answer 9

Last week there was an article about a woman who had $100K in student loans, her degree was in Women's Studies and Religious studies, now she can't afford to pay her loans. I think that says it all. And I don't think there is anything wrong with going to expensive schools or taking Liberal Arts degrees, but then to complain about not being able to pay for it shows a lack of understanding of reality.

Answer 10

OH HELL NO! They can't even make it on the show ( are you smarter than a 5th grader?)

Answer 11

I read that the other day. I am not surprised at all.



I live in an area that is heavily infested with liberals. Sadly, some of them have Master's Degrees. What are they teaching liberals in school that makes them intellectually superior to all others?

Answer 12

i read the article. the assumptions used in the study were false.

Answer 13

If liberals knew the first thing about economics, they wouldn't be liberals.



No study/poll needed. They prove it every time they open their mouths.

Answer 14

Read the questions, they're issue specific.



I'm sure I can replicate those results by asking cons simple economics questions which conflict with their stance on the issues.

Answer 15

Those aren't basic economics questions. Those are debunked conservative talking points.

Answer 16

No, I don't, and this progressive got an "A" in Economics 101. Go back to reading your Bible.



You're welcome. And polls can be made to give whatever results you wish. That's why I don't believe they are effective.



Statistics 101

Answer 17

Are you?