America’s Ingrained Indelible Ignorance

George Rebane

Union columnist Terry McLaughlin penned an important column in today’s (3nov22) newspaper titled ‘Perceptions and reality’.  In there she cited studies from academe and data from government agencies about the large deficits in what our adult population, which includes the electorate, knows about our country and what beliefs they actually use on which to base their decisions.  The information derived from academic surveys paints a picture of a population that has almost no knowledge about the important parameters that define the country they live in.  McLaughlin does an excellent job in summarizing the skewed view our neighbors have about America.

For example, Americans’ average belief in share of adults who belong to unions is 36 % to the actual value of 4%.  They believe that about 26% of American household incomes exceed $500,000 when the real share is about 1%.  They also think that about 41% of Americans are black when the reality is approximately 14%.  The numbers are 39% for Hispanics instead of 17% according to the census.  We believe that 30% of us are homosexual when again the real number is 3%; that 21% are transgender which in reality is 0.6%.

It's not hard to attribute the reason we have such a grossly misinformed citizenry.  Almost all of them have been educated by barrel-bottom teachers in unionized public schools which promote the country’s leftwing narrative, and that recently have started incorporating various neo-Marxist ‘critical’ curricula based on the teachings of the Frankfurt School (more here).  All of these educational institutions, even at the university level, are teaching the country to believe that there is a new norm in place that is markedly different from what the older folks were taught and grew up with.  And all of this is reinforced daily by the preponderant leftwing (aka lamestream) media.  When we look at its emphasized news items, ads and commercials, and entertainment program contents, we see such skewed population shares being foisted on the consuming audiences with brains in neutral.

And to put a bow on this state of our nation, McLaughlin cites "research (that) seems to indicate that shining a light on public misperceptions and providing accurate data may have little or no impact on changing the firmly held positions and opinions of Americans on almost any topic."

The lament of those who are not so encumbered is what will this existential plurality take into the voting booth next Tuesday.  Looking at the condition of our country, and especially California, we know how they have mis-marked their ballots in the past.  Given the hysterical level of daily lies from the Left – the economy is sound, crime is low, borders are secure, Republicans will destroy democracy, wind and sun will replace fossil fuels, higher taxes and more regulations are good, … - does not promise anything better from the upcoming mid-term election.  But then again, I may be wrong.  Even a pecking blind chicken will eventually find a seed.

Comments

[Bill Tozer]

Well, many claim to be an informed voter, but research says different. However, never underestimate the power of a mother bear protecting her cubs. A small point of optimism.

"..does not promise anything better from the upcoming mid-term election. But then again, I may be wrong. Even a pecking blind chicken will eventually find a seed."

Why be so defeatist? We stll have the Sweet Baby Gang, aka, the Mad Mother Brigade.

'Large Majority Of Americans Say They Won’t Vote For Candidates Who Supports Transgender Procedures For Youth: Poll'

https://www.dailywire.com/news/large-majority-of-americans-say-they-wont-vote-for-candidates-who-supports-transgender-procedures-for-youth-poll?

If the uninformed just have to pick soft on crime and disfiguring our youth, then more power to them.

[Bill Tozer]

Well, many claim to be an informed voter, but research says different. However, never underestimate the power of a mother bear protecting her cubs. A small point of optimism.

"..does not promise anything better from the upcoming mid-term election. But then again, I may be wrong. Even a pecking blind chicken will eventually find a seed."

Why be so defeatist? We stll have the Sweet Baby Gang, aka, the Mad Mother Brigade.

'Large Majority Of Americans Say They Won’t Vote For Candidates Who Supports Transgender Procedures For Youth: Poll'

https://www.dailywire.com/news/large-majority-of-americans-say-they-wont-vote-for-candidates-who-supports-transgender-procedures-for-youth-poll?

If the uninformed just have to pick soft on crime and disfiguring our youth, then more power to them.

[Bill Tozer]

‘If Republicans Win, They Will Burn Your Home, Steal Your Possessions, Take Your Lives, And Laugh When They Enslave Your Children’

https://thefederalist.com/2022/11/03/if-republicans-win-they-will-raze-your-home-steal-your-possessions-take-your-lives-and-laugh-when-they-enslave-your-children/

Yep, and Islamic children are taught in school throughout the Middle East that Jews eat Palestinian and Muslim children. That’s a fact. They will catch you then eat you! Be scared little children, be vary scared.

[Bill Tozer]

Election 2022:
It’s getting UGLY out there. I want to make it clear that I am not as confident as my links portray about a red tsunami sweeping over the land. Too many squeakers and no matter what, I have a hard time believing that, say, New Yorkers statewide (including the Big Apple will put a Republican in the Empire State’s Governor’s Mansion. So, I have no predications. I have seen stranger things. Carter blew his steady 10- 14 point against Reagan in the last 3 days. Too many close races for comfort.

Now, tea leaves time:

With the above said, generally and recent history of 2020 and 2016, the majority of those who are the earliest to mail in ballots are Dems and the ones who stand in line in sometimes bad weather are R’s who cast their ballots at the voting booth.

Nevada 2020. Clark County (Vegas) had the Dems leading by 15 in early voting, Biden won by 2.2%(?).
This year, 2022. Clark County has early voting Dems up by 8.5%.

This trend is also true in other swing states. 2020 Georgia. Early voting in top three urban counties up 15% Dem in early voting.
2022: Dems up 8.6% and the third largest metro area have early voting tied.

Add Philly. 2020, D’s up 15% in early voting. 2022: Dems up 9% in Philly. Add other swing states or districts from Ore to Dade County, FL. Ohio? Yes.

PS: huge factor is enthusiasm gap and R turnout. What to do if you are up by 2 and the opposing party is more fired up by 20% and smashing records for likely voters? I won’t predict 54 or 53 or 52 Republican Senators…..but it would be nice to hold what we got and add two. 2022 is a tough lineup for 2022 R senate candidates, but 2024 looks much more favorable for the Senate. Much more. :)

Maybe Dr. Rebane will start a Senate pool. Over/under is 51 or 52?
I report, you decide.

[Scott O]

The mid terms are important, but in the long run the topic of George's post is the telling thing.
We can not have a thriving Republic with a public that is uneducated. And it's not just in politics. Survey after survey show the kids in college don't know squat about physics, geography, history, basic math, reading proficiency, - you name it.
Lefties are gleeful that the old white folk are dying off.
Yeah - they're the ones that gave you all the toys and such that you take for granted. Think about the current bunch in the Biden admin - do you think any of them could repair broken mechanical stuff or grow food or actually provide medical care?
@dontmakemelaff.

[The Estonian fox]

Scott O 10:28PM

Or, as that famous NYT 'economist' Paul Kru.. (can't write his name) said when he pleaded to be head of economic policy for the Obama administration-

just @dontmakemelaffer. My policies will be way better than his.

Note there are more & more women running policy. More black women (BW) too (Stacey Abrams former gov of GA; Kathy Hochul - sorry, n.b. NB*; Muriel Bowser in DC; London Breed in SF; LaToya Cantrell in NO; Tishaura Jones in St.L; Lori Lightfoot in Beetlejuicago; and Vi Lyles in Charlotte). All doing a bang-up job.

A few chiefs of police are ELF-BW too. Note - not real sure of the E part; definitely the L part; not sure again of the F part. Though they never post YouTube vids of their positive achievements, unlike Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk Co FL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiXZhSV2mNk
or Santa Rosa Co FL sheriff Bob Johnson https://www.newsobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article260657947.html
Take Bob up on the bi-weekly gun safety classes.

* Not Black

[Scott O]

E Fox - "Note there are more & more women running policy. More black women (BW) too..."

Unfortunately most of the women 'leaders' or at least the ones in positions of authority that make the news are lefties and are usually disasters as most lefties are. The elected ones often run on the basic platform of "I have a vagina".
The Dems and the left go for that crap. Now, we are seeing more and more women run as conservatives and their platforms are based on competence and conservative platform ideas. It is hard to understand how GB rose under Maggie Thatcher and then turned away from her ideas and voluntarily sank into a "multi-culti" mess they are today.

[Gregory]

toes 822p

"Schadenfreude doesn’t normally do it for me, but I have to admit watching people who think they’re about to lose political power engage in panic-stricken hysterics has a certain appeal."

The Federalist's Harsanyi does turn a phrase now and then.

From GR's piece up top:

1)Americans’ average belief in share of adults who belong to unions is 36 % to the actual value of 4%.

2)They believe that about 26% of American household incomes exceed $500,000 when the real share is about 1%.

3)They also think that about 41% of Americans are black when the reality is approximately 14%.

4)The numbers are 39% for Hispanics instead of 17% according to the census.

5)We believe that 30% of us are homosexual when again the real number is 3%; that 21% are transgender which in reality is 0.6%.

They think many things that are not rooted in Reality. Including catastrophic anthropogenic global warming and that Thomas Jefferson was a child and slave rapist.

“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.”
philip k dick

[Bill Tozer]

Crime is a RED state problem. Inflation is Republican disinformation.

https://fb.watch/gAYu_3WkG9/

[Don Bessee]

They really are that stupid and think you are dumber than the y are-

Joy Reid claims everyday Americans never heard the word 'inflation' until GOP made it a campaign issue
Reid claimed many voters 'never used that word ever in their lives,' but have been 'taught it' by Republicans

https://www.foxnews.com/media/joy-reid-claims-everyday-americans-never-heard-word-inflation-until-gop-made-campaign-issue

Study debunks ‘red state murder’ claim from Hillary Clinton, Democrats
Of the 30 American cities with the highest murder rates, 27 have Democratic mayors and at least 14 Soros-backed prosecutors, the study shows

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-study-debunks-red-state-high-crime-claim-by-hillary-clinton-democrats

;-)

[Scott O]

Steve Sailer did a great piece on crime in the different states and major cities. Complete with charts and comments on the different trends.
https://www.takimag.com/article/the-floyd-effect/
There are a few lefty states with low crime rates but they are also the states that are almost all white. This upsets the narrative for the Dems but there it is. The ignorant notion that there is lots of gun violence in Chicago because the city is "awash in guns" is complete BS. There are plenty of places in the US that have higher gun ownership rates and yet very small amounts of gun crime.

[Gregory]

I've continuously owned n guns (n>0) since my misspent yute and none have ever committed a crime, with or without me.

They are also all unwashed, though one did get wet in a waterbed mishap.

[Scott O]

"though one did get wet in a waterbed mishap."

TMI, TMI!

[Paul Emery]

George

You must add to your index of indelible ignorance the majority of Republicans who believe the election was stolen and Trump was elected in 2020 despite the FACT that there is no evidence to support that contention.

"In poll after poll, about 70% of Republicans say they don’t think Joe Biden is the legitimate winner of the 2020 election."

https://www.politifact.com/article/2022/jun/14/most-republicans-falsely-believe-trumps-stolen-ele/

[George Rebane]

PaulE 1058am - Yeah, there's a lot those kinds of political denials going around. Take the overwhelming share of Democrats who believe Biden that he has improved the economy which is now better than what he inherited from Trump. Go figger.

[Bill Tozer]

Something Has Snapped: Unexplained 2.3 Million Jobs Gap Emerges In Broken Payrolls Report

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/something-has-snapped-unexplained-23-million-jobs-gap-emerges-broken-payrolls-report

[Scott O]

We have learned nothing:
Fourth Stimulus Check Update: New Payments Being Considered As More Americans Support New Aid

Yeah - that's the ticket! Print more money!
The govt is really fighting inflation!

"A new poll this week from Newsweek found that 63% of Americans feel the federal government should issue new stimulus checks to help those struggling because of inflation. Of that number, 42% felt strongly about it. The poll surveyed 1,500 eligible voters and was conducted between Oct. 23 and 24.

However, the results of the poll were quickly panned online, as the number trended on social media with many lamenting that it was clear that those who felt checks would help didn’t understand how the economy worked—meaning that checks were part of what led to the problems Americans are facing now in the first place."

Play stupid games - win stupid prizes.
https://dnyuz.com/2022/11/05/fourth-stimulus-check-update-new-payments-being-considered-as-more-americans-support-new-aid/

[Bill Tozer]

Ammo Grrrll is quite good this week. And on topic too! The woman’s touch.

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2022/11/thoughts-from-the-ammo-line-452.php

[Paul Emery]

But George you have to admit that 60% of Repubs believing the election was stolen is pretty amazing since you consider them to be the more intelligent portion of the American populace.

Also George what was the better economy the one Trump inherited from Obama or the one Biden inherited from Trump?

[psfish]

Also George what was the better economy the one Trump inherited from Obama or the one Biden inherited from Trump?

Forget it George it’s Chinatown…..err….psulbot!

[Paul Emery]

Simple question relevant to the discussion fishmouth. What is your opinion on the matter?

[Gregory]

punchy 1214p

What do *you* have to admit with the fact that about a third of Democrats and half of independents also think the 2020 election was fishy?

[Paul Emery]

What source do you have for that information Gregory?
If true "fishy" is different from stating outright that the election was stolen and Biden is not the legitimately elected President. Do you believe that Gregory?

[psfish]

Posted by: psul Emery | 05 November 2022 at 12:48 PM

You’re not supposed to be responding to me. Besides you’ve only asked and had this question answered about a hundred times previously. Perhaps you should write one of the answers down so you’ll have it as a reference later.

[Gregory]

It's true, Punch. Tough it out. Remember, I never lie and I'm always correct.

It wasn't stolen, it was purchased. By the Zuckbucks that are now mostly illegal in 2022, and it appears there is some trouble with the IRS over that $419 million tax deduction the Zucks took for their 'donation' to the CTCL to buy the election.

[Bill Tozer]

All roads lead to Trump. I once said here that all roads lead to/thru Ukraine. That’s true as well. Not an ‘either or’ proposition nor a categorical imperative thang. All roads lead to Trump.

Eric Ericsson’s take on it is the 2020 election was not stolen as much as the R’s got out lawyered. With Covid and all the floods of new lax voting rules pushed through by state and local election officials and Govs and local judges going along getting everything in place before the election….well, there wasn’t much the R’s could do at that point. Litigation takes months and months. Out lawyered. At least we have some “election reforms” which is code for getting back to normal. :).

Did you know in the voting rights bill (John Lewis Voting bill and the other big bill) that, if signed, it would be illegal to have surveillance on any voting box anywhere. Anywhere.

If a big smoking gun was not produced Thanksgiving, the die was cast. That’s always been my pragmatic side thoughts.

[Bill Tozer]

re: no one said it would be easy:

“The lament of those who are not so encumbered is what will this existential plurality take into the voting booth next Tuesday. Looking at the condition of our country, and especially California, we know how they have mis-marked their ballots in the past. Given the hysterical level of daily lies from the Left – the economy is sound, crime is low, borders are secure, Republicans will destroy democracy, wind and sun will replace fossil fuels, higher taxes and more regulations are good, … - does not promise anything better from the upcoming mid-term election.”

Baby steps. The Year of the Reckoning, Year 6.

‘COVID reckoning? Lockdown lefties struggle in governor's races as reopen righties take big Leads’

Michigan, Nevada, New York and Wisconsin — all known for strict lockdown policies — unexpectedly in play. Left-leaning sports show host predicts "red wave ... Don’t mess w people's kids. It lands differently."

https://justthenews.com/government/state-houses/lockdown-lefties-struggle-governors-races-while-reopen-righties-cruise

I could be wrong, but the way Biden wrecked everything he could touch with his bat swinging at the piñata, there are a lot of angry voters who just want to take him over their knee and spank his bottom three times. Reckoning for lockdowns, Reckoning for Inflation, Reckoning for 25 days of stockpile left of diesel (folks who heat their homes with oil in the cold NE and PA are being told they can only get 100 gallons now instead of the usual 600 for the year. Right after the mid-terms. Like Neapolitan and Hitler thinking winter was a good time to invade Moscow. Reckoning for many more things.

Lookie here. I found an old paddle, homemade, thick, wide, strong short handle, and lots of holes drilled into it.

[fish]

Stupid guy complains that others take advantage of his stupidity......film at eleven.

Sen. Joe Manchin, whose state relies heavily on the coal industry, was none too pleased. He ripped Biden in a statement Saturday morning, calling the president’s comments “outrageous and divorced from reality.”

As I read Manchin’s statement, I can’t find anything wrong in it. The senator is correct that Biden’s positions change “depending on the audience and the politics of the day.” He’s also right that the White House’s anti-energy policies will only bring about more “pain” for Americans.

But sometimes you can be right and still be worthy of mockery, and this is one of those times. Joe Manchin is not new to Washington, DC. He’s personally known and served with Joe Biden for decades. Given that, absolutely nothing Biden said in his remarks should come as a shock. In fact, the president has advertised his desire to shut down coal plants for years.

Jesus Manchin ....it's Chuck Schumer what did you think was going to happen to your "deal"?

[Don Bessee]

Too much truth for the average low information voter -

https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/stossel-inconvenient-facts-electric-cars-091803950.html

;-)

[Bill Tozer]

Another article on crime

‘When Ideology Trumps Empathy’
Progressives profess to care deeply about inner-city black Americans, but their voting patterns suggest otherwise.

https://www.city-journal.org/when-ideology-trumps-empathy