Psychology Today Asks an Excellent Question

 I saw this headline of this article from the magazine Psychology Today and was taken aback.

Are Americans Just Stupid?

As I said, I was taken aback. My first response was a bit of shock. But then I got to thinking about it, which is what the author intended, without doubt.

Seriously. Think about it.

Think about what we've been through with this President.  Think about what he's taken us through. And our system, our systems, our political and electoral systems allowed it.

First, a bit from the article:

Be honest. As an observer of American society, the thought may have crossed your mind at one time or another – at least for a fleeting moment or two – that the nation's dysfunctional state of affairs is the result of widespread stupidity. The people, too often misinformed and poorly educated, are getting exactly the democracy they deserve.

Perhaps that thought arose last week as you watched the cringe-worthy presidential debate, which pundits have called "a disgrace" and "an embarrassment for the ages." Our public discourse has been in decline for so long that it was bound to come to this, right? Effective self-government requires an intelligent and engaged public, and it seems the American electorate falls woefully short. With large segments of the population brazenly rejecting facts and science – whether the issue is climate change, evolution, the coronavirus, or the latest conspiracy theory – it's no surprise that social and political dysfunction are rampant.

Seen this way, it’s tempting to chalk up the clown car of American democracy to the collective intellectual deficit of its population. In truth, however, there is little evidence to support the notion that the American people are stupid. Objective measurements of intelligence can be controversial, raising questions of true objectivity and cultural bias, but it is difficult to find any that suggest Americans are lacking in IQ compared to those in other countries.

The conclusion I come to is not so much that we're dumb or stupid but that money, big money is pushing and has been pushing our government and for far too long. It's what got us to this point with this terribly--stupid?--man in our White House. Instead of doing what's best for America, what's best for the people and nation, they give money in the form of campaign contributions--our legalized bribery--to their/our government representatives and lo and behold, they get what they want for themselves and for their companies and corporations. It's people last, if at all.

Where I think potential stupidity comes in, to me, is in our for-profit healthcare system in our nation. Consider the following 3 simple, fast facts about our American health care system:

--Most expensive health care system in the world, far and away

--Only nation where citizens go bankrupt for health care costs

--Number one reason or source for bankruptcy in the nation is bankruptcy at 40% of all bankruptcies

With all of this, way too many of us defend and support the system. It's insane. It makes no sense whatever.

I can't imagine what else you can call this support but stemming from pride.

Or stupidity.

Then there's our ignorant money paid out for defense spending.

And this Republican Party President's continued support. 

Wow.