Why are Americans so dumb and ignorant?
373703
What a loaded question. XD \nOver the past several years, events in this country have caused feelings of increasing disdain for my fellow Americans (yes, I am American). I'm not quite sure of the one source this ignorance stems from, but I've widdled it down to either fear, the media, or blind patriotism. All those things do seem to connect. \nIf given the choice, I think Americans would much rather live in ignorance, feeling that they are the strongest, most powerful nation, where no opposing force can touch us. Whenever an event like 9-11 happens to destroy that false sense of security, people forget to use their common sense.\nOf course, the media does play on people's fear. They've been doing it for years, even before this whole War in Iraq fiasco. The news covers things like, "How to protect your 15 year old from internet predators," and "Bird Flu is coming, so stock up on imperishables." "How to keep your child out of the gun closet" is a good one too. \nBut during times of heightened paranoia, people really have been looking for a figure to turn to give them hope and peace of mind. Some will turn to God, believing that faith is the way to peace and safety in one's life. Then some of those will turn to Bush, hoping a man close to God will show them the way. \nBut if you were to take God out of this picture, you would see that Bush is two-faced and has no more inner strength and intelligence than your average blue-collared factory worker. \nOh, wait, those are in short supply in America these days. \nAnyways, Bush is just an average guy. \nSo why is he president? In my opinion, this is what really kills me, how twice he could beat opponents who had plans for the well-being of the country, who had better backgrounds, who were more knowledgeable about all the problems our country has... \nBut the majority vote went to the man who talked of patriotism and faith in God and country. In times of crisis, the weak-minded will follow the man who speaks of ideal circumstances. Bush pretty much sweet-talked his way into the White House. \nIt is really far more complicated than this, but I'm sure I've given a basic answer to your question.
599442
By "some" people you must mean "American people"....Everyone knows that as a general rule Americans are geographically ignorant, as well as culturally challenged. (soz but it's da tooth)
956846
They're not less intelligent that the rest of the world, it's just that a lot of American people don't care about the rest of the world and know nothing about it, and this is why a lot of people say they're stupid. But I think they are just unaware of the world around them, and it's not a cliché, I say it because I've spoken to a lot of American people who ddidn't even know for example when Iraq is, when they've been on war with this country for more than three years.\n\nSomething else typical of American people is that most of them don't speak any foreign language and expect everybody, everywhere they go, to speak English. And although it's true that everywhere you go you'll find easily people who speak English, it's still better to speak the local language, people will find you more friendly and will be more friendly to you.\n\nBut this all doesn't make American people less intelligent than the others, I think they just need to open up.
398057
because most americans are stupid and cant see past the end of there noses..
522293
Because we are stupid
746323
Because they are ignorant.
456761
SOME American people act very stupid - also on Yahoo Questions. Their world is so small that they think America is the world. \n\nBut I think America as a country is playing a positive role in the world most of the time and I think American people are just like the people of any other country - some of them are intelligent and kind, and others not. There is nothing diabolical about America or Americans.
694819
My apologies for the above words of my fellow American. I'm sure Europe has it's share of idiots as well.
545629
I hate to admit it, and I might have the CIA knocking on my door in a few hours for saying it, but I dont like Americans. I have lived here my whole life and I think that as a whole, Americans are arrogant, greedy, simpleminded, intolerant, ignorant, and superficial. (Case in point: work2twerk who posted your first answer.) We have a horrible system of not taking care of our children and elderly and those who are sick. We can not see a doctor when we need to because we are uninsured and we can not go to college because we can not afford to. Something isnt right when the richest country on the Earth can not care for it's citizens.
954558
The problem is more dont vote than do its because of the dumbing down of a nation that wants to be a democracy but just doesnt have the interest of the people to really do it anymore .\n\nI think its social apathy and government encouraged dumbing down of America,dumb people are easier to manipulate.\n\nSome thirty million adults in the U.S. do not have the skills to perform even the most basic tasks such as adding numbers on a bank slip, identifying a place on a map, or reading directions for taking a medication. Eleven million Americans are totally illiterate in English.\nOnly twenty-nine percent of Americans have basic reading and computing skills. One out of every twenty Americans lacks the ability to understand what is going on in the world or to develop an informed opinion for voting.\n\nhttp://www.hermes-press.com/education_in...\n\nAmericans are far from alone in the world, but from the perspective of many young Americans, we might as well be. Most young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 demonstrate a limited understanding of the world, and they place insufficient importance on the basic geographic skills that might enhance their knowledge.\n\nYoung Americans answer about half (54 percent) of all the survey questions correctly. But by and large, majorities of young adults fail at a range of questions testing their basic geographic literacy.\n\nOnly 37% of young Americans can find Iraq on a map—though U.S. troops have been there since 2003.\n6 in 10 young Americans don't speak a foreign language fluently.\n20% of young Americans think Sudan is in Asia. (It's the largest country in Africa.)\n48% of young Americans believe the majority population in India is Muslim. (It's Hindu—by a landslide.)\nHalf of young Americans can't find New York on a map.\nThese results suggest that young people in the United States—the most recent graduates of our educational system—are unprepared for an increasingly global future. Far too many lack even the most basic skills for navigating the international economy or understanding the relationships among people and places that provide critical context for world events.\n\nAbout the Survey\n\nThe findings presented are the results of a face-to-face survey conducted from December 17, 2005, to January 20, 2006, by Roper Public Affairs and Media, a part of GfK NOP. This study is the latest in a series of surveys commissioned by the National Geographic Society. \n\nMany in power believe that deception of the American public is a legitimate way for them to achieve their plan. Bush's so-called "war on terror" is the cloak for a personal agenda ,but this form of manipulation has always been popular with governments because it works so well
689289
most americans like everyone else in the world have the tendency to stereotype and judge without enough information, sure there are those with good hearts and working brains, but sadly they are most of the time overshadowed by ignorant and arogant ones, i don't believe in communism, but this doesn't mean i have to fight everyone else with different belief than mine, and doesn't necessarily mean i'm right and they are wrong in the 1st place !! God when will this world grow up a little!
324049
because Americans are lazy and ungrateful what they have
340991
Most Americans don't watch the news. They prefer to watch American Idol and America's Next Top Model. The smart Americans are few and far between. I would like to think that I am one of them. ;)
848096
People are just stupid, and with the way the media is depicting muslims in such a negative light so many americans are so sheltered and ignorant that they assume ALL muslims are like the ones they show on television.
992109
Because US CITIZENS  are so IGNORANT!!!!!!
198201
I think a lot of it stems from the American educational system. People who've gone to school in the US usually have zero knowledge of almost anything about the rest of the world.  I don't mean to say that Americans are stupid or ignorant; but it's really frustrating to the rest of the world to see Americans who don't have a passport, have no desire to experience another culture, and couldn't tell you where Sweden is in Europe (let alone anywhere in Africa or Asia). It makes the rest of the world feel like Americans are totally oblivious couldn't care less about everyone else on the planet.
655594
Tell me what country doesn't have stupid, ignorant people. All of us aren't stupid or ignorant, just some of us (Not including me of course).