Interesting Article

[Zero]

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/...he_illiterate/

Since it's sure to evoke controversy, I'll say that this was obviously written by an American, for an American. To a large degree it could be readily applied to most countries, I think, so right off the bat I'll concede that point to judiciously avoid any idea that this is somehow anti-America. That's certainly not why I've posted it, anyway.

[RobsanX]

To be fair, these are the functionally illiterate folks to whom he is referring:

Many factors help to explain why so many adults demonstrated English
literacy skills in the lowest proficiency level defined (Level 1). Twenty-five
percent of the respondents who performed in this level were immigrants
who may have been just learning to speak English. Nearly two-thirds of
those in Level 1 (62 percent) had terminated their education before
completing high school. A third were age 65 or older, and 26 percent had
physical, mental, or health conditions that kept them from participating fully
in work, school, housework, or other activities. Nineteen percent of the
respondents in Level 1 reported having visual difficulties that affect their
ability to read print.

[Zero]

Whatever the reasons are seems of little relevance. All it is doing is saying which people seem to be affected the most. It doesn't alter the final number.

[Starcadia]

Can someone summarize that article, preferably with pictures and catchphrases? It's just that it has, like, so many words! :lol:

No, I agree with the sentiment of the article for the most part. America is getting dumber by the day. And unfortunately for everybody, our morbid brain obesity appears to be spreading to the entire world. This last campaign season was really shocking to me, and made me think a great deal about our country's people and future. The fact that we got so close to electing a vice-president like Sarah Palin was really depressing. I've been trying to give us the benefit of the doubt, that a significant portion of any human population at any given time is going to be functionally retarded, and has always been. But I think this is ultimately a defense mechanism to help me cope, and that we are indeed slipping. I just hope it's not an exponential black hole kind of decline.

One bit of hope I have is that George W. Bush, who was responsible for so many other awful things, was also largely responsible for the dumbing down of the population, and that Mr. Obama, who knows how to think and to speak, will inspire more intellectual rigor. I say this because it is our nature to follow the example set by our leaders (parents, teachers, etc.). I probably lost some of my I.Q. in the last eight years, too, and I want it back.

[Zero]

I'm not entirely sure that it's their fault - surely they're guilty of feeding the fire and of capitalising on and promoting a lower common denominator, but I think it has been a combination of a lot of things in society which have contributed.

[truthwolf1]

Politcally dumbed down, brainwashed masses are easier to control and enslave.

[darkwing]

Interesting article, and I think it applies to many places in our world, including and perhaps especially Canada - which has been called "the retarded giant" in the past.

[Zero]

I think that was National Lampoon who called us that :lol: