@Robert Gentel,
Quote:It's a sad commentary on American education and religious culture to me. People have a right to be stupid, but that doesn't mean I can't lament it.
I'm not sure stupid is the right word.
They may take a view on the American educational system as a whole and it's front line staff--the teachers. In respect of this neither side can trust the other so it is natural for them to become polarised. It is possible in England to employ a rabid atheist and an equally rabid creationist in any subject and the kids not even know. They try not to bring themselves into the classroom. Like the best performers the song comes before the singer.
I don't know, but A2K has caused me to think that American teachers are not as backward at coming forward as our's are. Hence it is important to all lot of people that "in loco parentis" does not get into the wrong hands.
This is only an impression I have but it was confirmed by Mr Hofstadter in his anti-intellectualism book. You have a lower opinion of teachers than we do, and our's is only lukewarm, and their salaries are such that it is unlikely to increase.
Given that, if you will, the sides become extreme. They cannot be " stupid" because there are enough of them to be sure that their average IQ is 100 and if you class that as stupid you might have to devise some special IQ tests to keep a hold on any friends.
I'm assuming Bob that you are making a run for office as a distant goal. $thousands and thousands of hours are objective evidence of a mission. Nobody in their right mind would go in for that just so that we lovely A2Kers can argue the toss, commiserate with each other, play silly word games and carp and whine about everything under the sun including you.
I'm too world weary not to know that the devoted servant of the people seeks to get his nose in the posh trough. That's why I favour those who have been familiarised with the posh trough since birth. With a leavening from lower down of course.