Wow, that's incredibly wrong and ignorant. What do you think the driving test is for? Yeah, the testing regime is a bit of a joke in many places in the US, but the intention is to make sure a driver is competent to operate the vehicle in traffic and read road signs, so YES, it IS an endorsement. If you're completely clueless and unable to operate a car and pass a written test, you can't get a license. The whole purpose of drivers' licenses is to ensure competency and improve safety.