false 2412382 2 Politicians tell us constantly that they trust the wisdom of "The American People." <I>New York Times</I> best-selling author Rick Shenkman explains why we shouldn't--at least when it comes to politics. <P> Levees break in New Orleans. Iraq descends into chaos. The housing market teeters on the brink of collapse. Americans of all political stripes are heading into the 2008 election with the sense that something has gone terribly wrong with American politics. But what exactly? <P> Democrats blame Republicans and Republicans blame Democrats. Greedy corporate executives, rogue journalists, faulty voting machines, irresponsible defense contractors--we blame them, too. The only thing everyone seems to agree on, in fact, is that <I>the American people are entirely blameless</I>. <P> In <I>Just How Stupid Are We?</I>, best-selling historian and renowned myth-buster Rick Shenkman takes aim at our great national piety: the wisdom of the American people. The hard truth is that American democracy is more direct than ever--but voters are misusing, abusing, and abdicating their political power. Americans are paying less and less attention to politics at a time when they need to pay much more: Television has dumbed politics down to the basest possible level, while the real workings of politics have become vastly more complicated. <P> Shenkman offers concrete proposals for reforming our institutions--the government, the media, civic organizations, political parties--to make them work better for the American people. But first, Shenkman argues, we must reform ourselves. 2419559 9 6 2008 Just How Stupid Are We?: Facing the Truth About the American Voter total:125|5:15|4:36|3:49|2:21|1:4| 125 412 305 53 3 3 false false Tue Jun 10 16:47:53 -0700 2008 Mon Jun 09 22:21:00 -0700 2008 Tue Jun 10 16:47:53 -0700 2008
This is also a hot topic, increasingly, in the popular press. The ...more...]]> 3 1 false false Fri Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu Nov 13 05:52:49 -0800 2008 Thu Nov 13 06:21:06 -0800 2008 more...]]> 3 1 false false Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu Dec 04 13:59:07 -0800 2008 Thu Dec 04 14:06:45 -0800 2008 1 more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sun Mar 08 18:15:45 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 08 18:23:07 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Sep 11 13:49:17 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 17 22:24:23 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 1 false false Mon Oct 06 07:02:44 -0700 2008 Mon Oct 06 07:04:22 -0700 2008 2 0 false false Sun Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sat Aug 30 19:57:31 -0700 2008 Sun Sep 14 21:03:23 -0700 2008 Just How Stu...more...]]> 1 2 false true Tue Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Jul 22 04:56:42 -0700 2008 Tue Jul 22 05:12:20 -0700 2008
I'm not saying this because the book says I'm stupid. I generally agree with the majority of the book - Americans haven't a clue about civics and they can be led by the nose by smart politicians and mass media. (and a little mass hysteria) The book is ...more...]]> 4 0 false false Fri Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Jul 01 19:01:13 -0700 2008 Fri Oct 03 14:56:32 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 true false Thu Jan 29 15:28:44 -0800 2009 Mon Jun 16 20:10:50 -0700 2008 Thu Jan 29 15:28:44 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Fri Sep 26 09:20:16 -0700 2008 Tue Dec 16 08:56:30 -0800 2008
Unfortunately a dumb public with deeply...more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Apr 30 05:06:46 -0700 2009 Thu Apr 30 05:14:20 -0700 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Fri Dec 05 21:10:41 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 05 21:13:28 -0800 2008 more...]]> 0 0 false false Fri Feb 27 13:34:52 -0800 2009 Fri Feb 27 13:46:04 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu Jun 26 18:36:03 -0700 2008 Sat Aug 09 21:16:59 -0700 2008 very.

Despite the majority of Americans being well educated, informed and able to vote, many are displeased, disillusioned and dismayed by their government. So, what's our problem? (From what I gleaned) we, The People, can't face the truth, want to be lied to, and don't know...more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Aug 25 10:44:24 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 31 05:59:05 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Fri Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Sep 11 14:33:06 -0700 2009 Fri Sep 11 15:17:12 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Tue Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Oct 13 12:08:56 -0700 2008 Tue Oct 14 12:09:33 -0700 2008 more...]]> 2 0 false false Fri Dec 12 05:13:47 -0800 2008 Mon Nov 10 17:34:40 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 12 05:13:47 -0800 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Aug 21 08:04:05 -0700 2008 Thu Aug 21 08:07:35 -0700 2008 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=2412382