[tedks]

Most Americans probably have no idea what the NSA is, even now. I'm sure most of my college friends who weren't computer science majors couldn't say what it was or what it did.

Soviet citizens probably knew more about what was going on than Americans do now.

[ingler]

Most Americans probably couldn't name the three branches of government without looking it up first. They get exactly the government they deserve.

[subdane]

Many Americans are uninformed and many are apathetic. But Thucydides said the same thing about Athenians. I don't believe it's as simple as blaming American citizens.

Americans get information about the world through substandard education, uninvestigated journalism and high-fructose entertainment. The reporting on American policy outside America is far better than the reporting on it inside the country. Yes, Americans inherit this government, but as long as America is a superpower, so does the rest of the world.

"Study abroad is extremely important; just for kids to get outside this country and experience the fact there is a big world out there." http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/george-lucas-attacks-us-cult...

[maxerickson]

Are you a fan of H. L. Mencken? He said:

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.

Quite the elitist.

[ingler]

Gotta love Mencken:

"The only good bureaucrat is one with a pistol at his head. Put it in his hand and it's good-bye to the Bill of Rights."