When it comes to American history, government, and economics, Americans are largely ignorant. When over 2,000 people were administered a 33-question test last spring on our American history and our political and economic institutions, 71 percent (college and non-college) failed.
Some of the results according to Pete Winn are:
Less than half of Americans can name all three branches of government.
Only 27 percent of Americans know that the Bill of Rights prohibits the government from establishing an official religion in the U.S.
54 percent do not know that the Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, not the president.
Seventy-nine (79) percent of elected officeholders did not know that the Bill of Rights expressly forbids the government establishment of an official religion.
A large number (43 percent) of politicians did not know what the Electoral College does.
Only 32 percent of politicians can actually define what the free-enterprise system is – even though many of them may have campaigned for office pledging to defend it.
One of the reasons why there is such appalling civic ignorance is political correctness and multi-culturalism on college campuses, according to New York Times columnist David Brooks, who spoke after the press conference. . . .
Filed under: Constitution, Culture, Economy, Education, Government, History, Politics | Tagged: Bill of Rights, Constitution, David Brooks, Economy, Electoral College, Government, History, New York Times, News, PC Professors, Politics, Separation of powers, State religion, United States |