Where's the Outrage? from HUFFPOST 18AUG11

THIS IS A FANTASTIC COMMENTARY ON HOW STUPID AMERICANS ARE. My job requires me to deal with the public, domestically and internationally, on a daily basis and over the past 10 years I have noticed just how dumb Americans are, especially when compared to people I deal with in other countries. The Americans I have to deal with concerning international matters (my primary job) are the worst, they can't comprehend the international date line, time zones, most of the time have no clue where other countries are and are amazed another countries business laws apply to Americans doing business there. It is pathetic, frustrating and embarrassing. So let's keep cutting the education budget and soon we will be the nation the plutocrats controlling Capital Hill want; docile, dumb drones unaware of what we once were as a nation because it is no longer taught in our schools. 
What explains the ongoing absence of outrage among the general U.S. populace, who watched like lemmings as the truth about the Iraq War came to light, the various absurdities related to the Great Recession unfolded, and continues as the USS America slowly sails toward the edge of an economic abyss? The answer appears to be a combination of political apathy, sheer ignorance, a lack of sophistication, and a high degree of comfort on the part of the average American that shields them from reality.
According to the Federal Election Commission, between 1960 and 2008, national voter turnout has declined from 63 percent to 57 percent for presidential elections, and from 47 percent to 38 percent for midterm elections. Fewer eligible voters are taking an interest in the political process in the United States, which is mystifying given the free flow of information, the transparency of the process, and the stakes involved. Why is that?
Anyone who has watched "Jay Walking" on the The Tonight Show (and knows the difference) must be shocked to see the degree of ignorance among the average person on the street in this country. Rather than being humored by watching how genuinely uninformed people are, I find the exercise pathetic. From the significance of the fourth of July to the identity of Joe Biden, the sad fact is that the average person in this country really has no clue about basic history or who is leading our country. Can it therefore be any surprise that the average person has no idea what is happening in the corridors of power in Washington? Perhaps that is what the politicians are banking on.
A 2009 Harris poll indicated that only 43% of Americans read a newspaper every day. Of the top eight newspapers by circulation in the U.S., number two is USA Today, number five is the San Jose Mercury News, and numbers seven and eight are the Daily News and New York Post -- none being the bastion of sophistication. Nielsen Media Research conducted a ranking of the most watched television programs in the United States between January 1964 and February 2010. Six of the top twelve were sporting events (five of the six being the Super Bowl) and the top two were the finale of M*A*S*H and an episode of Dallas (in 1983 and 1980, respectively). According to Arbitron, the number one radio show in the country based on number of listeners is America's Top 40. According to movieweb.com, all of the top 40 highest grossing films in history in the U.S. have been either science fiction or animation (with the exception of Forrest Gump, at number 23).
How reasonable is it to assume, then, that a person who doesn't read a newspaper on a regular basis, doesn't know the face or name of the Vice President, and prefers science fiction to non-fiction may be expected to know much or care about the political process in this country? The truth is, the average American likes to be entertained; he/she doesn't like or want to know much about 'serious' things, and knows very little about international affairs. According to WikiAnswers, just 27 percent of Americans possess a passport, and the majority of these people use their passports to travel to just three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the UK. So, not only is the general American public not focused on its own politics, it knows virtually nothing about the world, which is quite convenient for those who craft U.S. foreign policy. A public who doesn't know the difference between Austria and Australia isn't very likely to object to dollars spent or actions taken in places they've never heard of nor been to.
The politicians who go on the stump proclaiming to speak on behalf of the American people saying "the American people in their great wisdom want..." don't know what they are talking about, or are deliberately spinning the political process. The truth is, the average American doesn't have much knowledge or wisdom, and simply wants to be left alone and entertained. They have adjusted to the 'new normal' and seem satisfied so long as their daily pleasures remain uninterrupted. So, where is the 'outrage' among the American public? It doesn't exist. If the truth about the Iraq War, being trampled upon by the Great Recession, and heading for economic Armageddon doesn't bring them into the streets, nothing will.
Daniel Wagner is CEO of Country Risk Solutions, a political risk consulting firm based in Connecticut, and author of the forthcoming book Managing Country Risk.

Follow Daniel Wagner on Twitter: www.twitter.com/countryriskmgmt

Weekly Address: President Obama: "Before We are Democrats or Republicans, We are Americans" 15JAN11

WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Obama said that once business resumes in Washington, he looks forward to working with members of both parties to meet the challenges facing the country.  By working together in a spirit of common cause, the President and members of Congress can face these challenges in a way worthy of the voters who sent them to Washington.

The audio and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. EDT, Saturday, January 15, 2011.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
The White House
January 15, 2011

It’s been one week since tragedy visited Tucson, Arizona.

We properly spent much of the week mourning the victims and remembering their lives. We also discovered stories that serve to lift us up – stories of heroism and bravery, of courage and community – stories that remind us that we are one American family, 300 million strong.

One of the places we saw that sense of community on display was on the floor of Congress, where Gabby Giffords, who inspires us with her recovery, is deeply missed by her colleagues.  One by one, Representatives from all parts of the country and all points of view rose in common cause to honor Gabby and the other victims, and to reflect on our shared hopes for this country.

As shrill and discordant as our politics can be at times, it was a moment that reminded us of who we really are – and how much we depend on one another.

While we can’t escape our grief for those we’ve lost, we carry on now, mindful of those truths.

We carry on because we have to.  After all, this is still a time of great challenges for us to solve.  We’ve got to grow jobs faster, and forge a stronger, more competitive economy.  We’ve got to shore up our budget, and bring down our deficits.  We’ve got to keep our people safe, and see to it that the American Dream remains vibrant and alive for our children and grandchildren.

These are challenges I believe we can meet.  And I believe we can do it in a way worthy of those who sent us here to serve.  So as business resumes, I look forward to working together in that same spirit of common cause with members of Congress from both parties – because before we are Democrats or Republicans, we are Americans.

And as we perform the work of this nation, my prayer is that we stay true to our words, and turn to those examples of heroism, and courage, and perseverance, to bring out the better in all of us.

Thanks for listening, and have a great weekend.