A lot of Americans=arrogant and ignorant

[CAleftist]

Why are so many Americans so mind-numbingly dumb when it comes to politics? And at the same time, they feel no shame in spouting their completely-divorced from reality opinions. There's so much hostility to factual analysis, or any analysis, really-a lot of people just spout political talking points that they picked up from some radio host or cable TV pundit, as if it were truth.

Now, I realize that this kind of reactionary, right-wing politics is common in many countries, particularly capitalist countries; and it is therefore plausible that America, being the premier capitalist country, with a huge population of people who consider themselves "middle-class", just overwhelms the world with its arrogance at being #1, and its historical ignorance.

Which brings me to another thing. History has basically been deleted in America, and I attribute this to WW2 and the position America found itself in economically in relation to other countries after the war. How many people are aware, for example, that it was the organization of Communists and other radical leftists that was what provoked the New Deal reforms? How many people are aware that it was the Red Menace that kept the American "middle class" mobilized and stable?

I also think this ignorance and arrogance has a class basis. But it's not the working class, for the most part, who tend to have these views. It's the "middle class", the petit bourgeoisie, the haute bourgeoisie, the professional pundit class, the politicians, many of the intellectuals, the business leaders. These are the people who control the political and social debates in America. These are the people responsible for perpetuating the problem.

[Klaatu]

I have read a very old history book which was owned by my grandfather. It tells of 'hundreds of thousands of Socialists marching in the streets, in the U.S.A. (circa 1905-ish)

You will not ever read of such things in modern, post 1917, 'cleansed,' Texas-style history books (at least I haven't seen it) because the ruling capitalist class simply doesn't want you to know about America's pro-Socialist roots. But if you dig deeply enough, you can find these facts.

[Sugarnotch]

To go on a tirade disparaging workers because they're victims of the highly effective propaganda machine is no way to change one's mind. Marginalizing people because they've been brainwashed to the point of complacency isn't going to help them. I'm really not fond of the "These people are stupid and ignorant" platform by any means.

Indeed, the education system plays a big role - doing so by stifling labor history and putting the most positive spin on atrocious acts of our countries (or downright ignoring them) - in creating the jingoistic mindset that is standard in most people.

The media obviously plays a huge role as well. Exaggerate Lilliputian differences between the two parties to exacerbate the soap opera in Washington. Focus on meaningless issues, don't let the public be any more than a spectator in the whole charade.

These ignorant and arrogant people are not offenders like you make them out to be, they are victims of the entire capitalist paradigm. Casting aspersions on them and trivializing their intelligence is not the way forward.

[ВАЛТЕР]

It isn't their fault that they're stupid. In fact many of them don't view themselves as stupid what-so-ever because they "stay informed" and by that I mean that they watch their choice of corporate media, which decides what the people "know" about.

Not to mention the completely dilapidated educational system which suffers from severe dropout rates even though it is ridiculously simple to complete.

The bourgeoisie doesn't need intellectuals, they need brain-dead slaves, and the best slave is a slave that believes they are free.

[Pirate Utopian]

I really hate this "those dumb uninformed yanks" attitude. You're not a genius cause you read more books, dont watch TV, follow some lameass "anticonsumerism" or hate "mainstream" stuff.

[#FF0000]

I remember I thought "HEH SUCH SHEEP" when I was a baby in high school. then i started working and talking to people.

[Rafiq]

Having this attitude that you're the enlightened one and everyone around you is sleeping or some matrix bullshit is counter productive.

Kids are, for the most part, politically nihilistic, and folks such as you and I happen to have an interest in this stuff, which makes us a minority. Like #FF000 said, working with people and talking will change your opinion on things

[The Dark Side of the Moon]

America? Stupid? Why I'd never believe it!

Herp derp

When they taught us about communism and capitialism in school, they talked about yo-yo's. One yo-yo, thE communist one, was cheaply made and was cheaper. On the other hand, the capitalist one was made expensively and up to date. Therefor capitialism is king.

I believed it until I read a out the Nixon-someone debate in 1956 I believe

[CommunityBeliever]

Actually talk to real people like #FF0000 said.

I think you will find there are plenty of people that aren't "mind-numbingly dumb."

[RadioRaheem84]

Most Americans are over worked, stressed, misinformed, under-educated and uninformed.

Some soften the blow of their lives with drugs, others with religion and others with right wing nationalism.

Never in the history of the world has such a population been bombarded with propaganda from cradle to grave.

[kowalskil]

Most Americans are over worked, stressed, misinformed, under-educated and uninformed.

Some soften the blow of their lives with drugs, others with religion and others with right wing nationalism.

Never in the history of the world has such a population been bombarded with propaganda from cradle to grave.

Hmm, it depends on how the term "propaganda" is defined.
.

[Commissar Rykov]

Americans are far more aware they are being screwed by employers, the capitalist system and the American Upper Class. The problem is they haven't arrived at the right answer to the questions they have. Americans aren't as unaware as people like to paint them they just so happen especially from my time in Wage-Labor have no idea how to fix it. I mean that most don't even think of unionizing, solidarity or sabotage in the workplace shows that American Education has been good in keeping them unaware of what Organized Labor can do.

Americans have the militancy and the consciousness they just lack direction.

[Coach Trotsky]

Americans are far more aware they are being screwed by employers, the capitalist system and the American Upper Class. The problem is they haven't arrived at the right answer to the questions they have. Americans aren't as unaware as people like to paint them they just so happen especially from my time in Wage-Labor have no idea how to fix it. I mean that most don't even think of unionizing, solidarity or sabotage in the workplace shows that American Education has been good in keeping them unaware of what Organized Labor can do.

Americans have the militancy and the consciousness they just lack direction.

And right there, we need to ask, "Where is the Left?"
And you know what the answer to that question is, and so you know why we keep getting this "stupid American" result.
Think about all the events over the decades where the Left should have been trying energetically and persistently to get some serious mass protest action at least, but didn't.
Think about all the spontaneous rebellions or protests FROM BELOW which the Left ignored because that might "get us in trouble" or "alienate their (better off worker, middle class liberal, and union bureaucrat) allies" or "will fail and cause a right-wing backlash (among their 'middle class' milieu especially)".
Notice that the ONLY time that the middle class Left dares go into certain neighborhoods and among certain worse off working class sectors is AFTER liberals have already initiated an effort there and thus indicated that it has bourgeois permission and a bourgeois misleadership layer at the ready to accept the Left's boot-licking and grovelling. Then it's yessir, boss, we'll be quiet and toe the political lowest common denominator that doesn't challenge the system nor advance mass consciousness and mass activism or mass organization one bit. They think their being principled just because they don't actively campaign for electing Democrats, but if you ain;t out asserting a real alternative, then you ARE campaigning for the bourgeois political rulers by default.

[RedMarxist]

IMHO, the biggest Communist Party in the United States where I live(CPUSA) is a complete sham. Allying with the Democrats-give me a break. Plus, they haven't, at least in recent years, at least once encouraged and/or tried to jump start any sort of remotely possible revolution. They are reformists.

Back in 1919 they at least were attempting revolution-a revolution that never came of course.

The most radical period arguably in American history was the 60's, but that was mainly because of Opposition to the Vietnam War, inspiration drawn from the Russian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cuban, etc. Revolutions,(now there is NO radical Left-wing regime in existence to gather influence from, negative or positive), and an unparalleled militancy in the American working class.

Now, and this could be just because I'm surrounded by right-wing/or "moderate" middle-class American dumb shits, no one I know gives a rats ass about R-E-V-O-L-U-T-I-O-N.

The one thing I HATE right now is anti-Immigration legislature. I would love to change it, but of course I'm powerless. The sweetest girl I've ever known, someone whom REALLY liked me, got her fucking life ruined by anti-Immigration bills. IT MAKES ME SO FUCKING ANGRY!

Another thing i DESPISE is the far-right Christian community. Esp. the PRAY-THE-GAY-AWAY variety of Tea Baggers. When/If THE Second American Socialist revolution comes, they will be arming themselves to fight the Reds. :blink:

Just so you know, FYI, Americans are not stupid. I know plenty of highly educated, smart people. And Two, We are not a bunch of unenlightened ignorant red necks who hate Socialism.

There are Communists here you know!

:)

[Psy]

The bourgeoisie doesn't need intellectuals, they need brain-dead slaves, and the best slave is a slave that believes they are free.
Actually they do need intellectuals as industrial societies require engineers and technicians. Do you think capitalists have any idea of how the physical production process that makes the capital? When for example AT&T's network is thrown into crisis in the middle of the night do you think the technicians call the capitalist owners or the engineers on-call?