چقدر احمق هستیم؟: مواجهه با حقیقت درباره رأی‌دهنده آمریکایی

Levees break in New Orleans. Iraq descends into chaos. The housing market teeters on the brink of collapse. Americans of all political stripes are heading into the 2008 election with the sense that something has gone terribly wrong with American politics. But what exactly? Democrats blame Republicans and Republicans blame Democrats. Greedy corporate executives, rogue journalists, faulty voting machines, irresponsible defense contractors-we blame them, too. The only thing everyone seems to agree on, in fact, is that the American people are entirely blameless. In Just How Stupid Are We?, best-selling historian and renowned myth-buster Rick Shenkman takes aim at our great national piety: the wisdom of the American people. The hard truth is that American democracy is more direct than ever-but voters are misusing, abusing, and abdicating their political power. Americans are paying less and less attention to politics at a time when they need to pay much more: Television has dumbed politics down to the basest possible level, while the real workings of politics have become vastly more complicated. Shenkman offers concrete proposals for reforming our institutions-the government, the media, civic organizations, political parties-to make them work better for the American people. But first, Shenkman argues, we must reform ourselves.

politicians Tell Us Constantly That They Trust The Wisdom Of “the American People.” new York Times Best-selling Author Rick Shenkman Explains Why We Shouldn’t-at Least When It Comes To Politics

publishers Weekly

shenkman (presidential Ambition) Makes The Provocative Argument That As American Voters Have Gained Political Power In The Last 50 Years, They Have Become Increasingly Ignorant Of Politics And World Affairs-and Dangerously Susceptible To Manipulation. The Book Provides A Litany Of Depressing Statistics-most Americans Cannot Name Their Representatives In Congress, Only 20% Hold A Passport, 30% Cannot Identify The Holocaust-as Shenkman Inquires Whether Americans Are Capable Of Voting In The Nation's Or Even Their Own Best Interests. Although Shenkman Clearly Derives Some Pleasure In Pointing Out The Stupidity And Irrationality Of The American Public, His Concern Is Genuine And Heartfelt. In Lucid, Playful Prose, He Illustrates How Politicians Have Repeatedly Misled Voters And Analyzes The Dumbing Down Of American Politics Via Marketing, Spin Machines And Misinformation. Shenkman Initiates An Important Conversation In This Book And Makes Welcome Suggestions To Reinvigorate Civic Responsibility And Provide People With The Knowledge And Tools Necessary To Efficaciously Participate In The Political Process. (june)

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Fifty percent of Americans can name four characters from "The Simpsons," but only two out of five can name all three branches of the federal government. No more than one in seven can find Iraq on a map. Just how stupid are we? Pretty stupid. In Just How Stupid Are We?, best-selling author Rick Shenkman takes aim at our great national piety: the wisdom of the American people. American democracy is as direct as it's ever beenbut voters are misusing, abusing, and abdicating their political power. At once a powerful indictment of voter apathy and political indifference, Just How Stupid Are We? also provides concrete proposals for reforming our institutionsthe government, the media, civic organizations, political partiesto make them work better for the American people Contents......Page 12 Author's Note......Page 14 1. The Problem......Page 16 2. Gross Ignorance......Page 28 3. Are the Voters Irrational?......Page 52 4. The Importance of Myths......Page 68 5. Giving Control to the People......Page 82 6. The Power of Television......Page 96 7. Our Dumb Politics: The Big Picture......Page 132 8. Our Mindless Debate About 9/11......Page 144 9. We Can't Even Talk About How Stupid We Are......Page 156 Coda: Hope......Page 186 Epilogue......Page 200 Acknowledgments......Page 232 Sources......Page 234 B......Page 244 C......Page 245 D......Page 246 F......Page 247 I......Page 248 K......Page 249 M......Page 250 N......Page 251 P......Page 252 R......Page 254 T......Page 255 U......Page 256 Z......Page 257 Bestselling Historian Rick Shenkman Takes Aim At The Wisdom Of The American People. He Writes That American Voters Are Misusing, Abusing, And Abdicating Their Political Power. The Problem -- Gross Ignorance -- Are The Voters Irrational? -- The Importance Of Myths -- Giving Control To The People -- The Power Of Television -- Our Dumb Politics : The Big Picture -- Our Mindless Debate About 9/11 -- We Can't Even Talk About How Stupid We Are -- Coda: Hope. Rick Shenkman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 187-196) And Index. Takes aim at the intelligence of the American people in relation to the nation's political system, revealing how voters are misusing, abusing, and abdicating their political power and offering concrete proposals for reforming our institutions and political processes.