It's sad, but I can't say that I'm surprised

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US elected officials scored abysmally on a test measuring their civic knowledge, with an average grade of just 44 percent, the group that organized the exam said Thursday.

Ordinary citizens did not fare much better, scoring just 49 percent correct on the 33 exam questions compiled by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI).

"It is disturbing enough that the general public failed ISI's civic literacy test, but when you consider the even more dismal scores of elected officials, you have to be concerned," said Josiah Bunting, chairman of the National Civic Literacy Board at ISI.

"How can political leaders make informed decisions if they don't understand the American experience?" he added.

The exam questions covered American history, the workings of the US government and economics.

Among the questions asked of some 2,500 people who were randomly selected to take the test, including "self-identified elected officials," was one which asked respondents to "name two countries that were our enemies during World War II."

Sixty-nine percent of respondents correctly identified Germany and Japan. Among the incorrect answers were Britain, China, Russia, Canada, Mexico and Spain.

Forty percent of respondents, meanwhile, incorrectly believed that the US president has the power to declare war, while 54 percent correctly answered that that power rests with Congress.

Asked about the electoral college, 20 percent of elected officials incorrectly said it was established to "supervise the first televised presidential debates."

In fact, the system of choosing the US president via an indirect electoral college vote dates back some 220 years, to the US Constitution.

The question that received the fewest correct responses, just 16 percent, tested respondents' basic understanding of economic principles, asking why "free markets typically secure more economic prosperity than government's centralized planning?"

Activities that dull Americans' civic knowledge include talking on the phone and watching movies or television -- even news shows and documentaries, ISI said.

Meanwhile, civic knowledge is enhanced by discussing public affairs, taking part in civic activities and reading about current events and history, the group said.

The iRack

Ah, humor. Doesn't it feel good to laugh?

Well....

I can't say that I'm thrilled with the results last night.... makes me a little fearful for my family's financial security, but it is what it is.

I hope at this time all of the McCain supporters will "cut their loses," so to speak, and move on. You can't change the past, so let's rally for the future with President Elect Obama at the head. He'll be president for 4-8 years, so we can accept that and pray that the best will happen! I worry about his big government ideals, and can't see why people can't see that.

I looked into the young ethnic voters faces as the camera panned a city in NY last night and couldn't help but think "all they care is that he's black... they have no idea what his policies are."

Regardless, we've survived in the past, and will here as well. I pray for the elected officials in the Congress and hope that they'll show more restraint and forethought on passing legislation. Again, it's them who've gotten us into a not so great situation. Blame a president all you want (they have become more powerful than they ought to be), but there are people behind the scenes that have the power to keep things aligned.

Let's be positive! God is at the helm and his will be done. His message is of free agency, and that's a beautiful thing. Sometimes we don't use our free agency as we should and we pay consequences... in that situation all we can do is learn from history and pay attention.

Election Day

Happy election day everyone... or at least I hope it will be!

I read an interesting tidbit this morning by playwright Arthur Miller entitled "Who Are We Really Voting For?"

"Political leaders everywhere have come to understand that to govern they must learn how to act... [W]ho are we really voting for? The self-possessed character who projects dignity, exemplary morals, and enough forthright courage to lead us through war or depression, or the person who is simply good at creating a counterfeit with the help of professional coaching, executive tailoring, and that whole armory of pretense that the groomed president can now employ? Are we allowed anymore to know what is going on not merely in the candidate's facial expression and his choice of suit but also in his head? Unfortunately.... this is something we are not told until the auditioning end and he is securely in office.... As with most actors, any resemblance between the man an the role is purely accidental."

This totally speaks to what our political system is equating to at the moment. Obama is a great orator and promises change... well, change doesn't always mean moving in a "positive" direction. I had the misfortune to have the tv on one day (the misfortune being the tv being on, I hate it! However, being the stellar mom that I am, I've been pawning my kids off on it so I can pack.) Anyway! I hate Nickelodeon, I just don't think their shows are appropriate for kids, but I happened to pass by the channel and heard the results of a poll they'd done. Obama had won the election! Yay. I think. Or no, not so much. I just thought to myself about how easily swayed we are by the acting that goes on around us. Never mind that his policies are dangerous, and the size of government will grow exponentially.... he's a great orator! You do get pulled in by his even tones and cavalier nature. He's certainly is a stark contrast to McCain. AGAIN, I'M NOT A MCCAIN CHEERLEADER. All I care about is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I don't think that these things are possible when the government is constantly in play in every life. I also don't think that "college for everyone" is what people think it is. Yah, education is great. I tend to ramble on about it when I get a minute, so, it is something I think about a lot. However, I think that the "education" being talked of is mediocre at best, and the thought of continuing high school into college because EVERYONE goes now, just makes it worse! Kids with the grades and desires DO go to college. The government bends over backwards with loans and grants, and if you really are motivated a school will help you financially just to go there. Let's not try to push everyone into going to school. The "system" of it isn't right for everyone, let us CHOOSE what is right... not be forced into it.

Parental rights! I want the right to teach my children what I want, and to CHOOSE what path is best for them. The government is TOO big. Besides, when it really comes down to it, all of us are playing ignorant anyway. The congress is calling the shots here. Why don't we start laying off the executive and focusing on the real "evil." Our elected officials in general are supposed to be voting on behalf of us... WE NEED TO START BEING INFORMED SO WE CAN TELL THEM WHAT WE WANT! THEY CAN PROVIDE A CHECK ON THE EXECUTIVE... IT WAS ACTUALLY BUILT INTO OUR GOVERNMENT THAT WAY... CHECKS AND BALANCES ANYONE?