We have issues that are definitely third-world in nature (huge divide between the rich and poor, extremely low wages)
Same here, alas.
even a lot of people who have the capacity to do some critical thinking prefer not to
Obviously this is true too. At the moment, though, there's a strong tide of feeling in the US that "intellectualism" is some kind of social stigma. It can be very intimidating. So I think a lot of people are bowing to peer pressure alongside their own laziness when they refuse to face up to reality.
That said, there are huge numbers of Americans to whom this doesn't apply; I hadn't realized how many until I moved to this country, because from Britain one assumed all Americans were like the ones who shouted loudest -- which is to say, the tantruming infants.
I can never understand why otherwise intelligent people watch Big Brother
Me neither. It sounds ghastly.
I guess it's just an extension of the Romans' "Bread and Circus" philosophy
I think this is very much the case.
Probably not a good idea
I've been looking all over for the quote I read today where someone told FOX News that brazenly lying to the public was a risky business model. The person who cited this remark pointed out that all through US history brazenly lying to the public has proven to be the most successful of all business models.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2010-03-06 04:53 am (UTC)We have issues that are definitely third-world in nature (huge divide between the rich and poor, extremely low wages)
Same here, alas.
even a lot of people who have the capacity to do some critical thinking prefer not to
Obviously this is true too. At the moment, though, there's a strong tide of feeling in the US that "intellectualism" is some kind of social stigma. It can be very intimidating. So I think a lot of people are bowing to peer pressure alongside their own laziness when they refuse to face up to reality.
That said, there are huge numbers of Americans to whom this doesn't apply; I hadn't realized how many until I moved to this country, because from Britain one assumed all Americans were like the ones who shouted loudest -- which is to say, the tantruming infants.
I can never understand why otherwise intelligent people watch Big Brother
Me neither. It sounds ghastly.
I guess it's just an extension of the Romans' "Bread and Circus" philosophy
I think this is very much the case.
Probably not a good idea
I've been looking all over for the quote I read today where someone told FOX News that brazenly lying to the public was a risky business model. The person who cited this remark pointed out that all through US history brazenly lying to the public has proven to be the most successful of all business models.