Bill Maher often gets criticized for calling Americans "stupid." The host of HBO's Real Time has said it dozens of times, including just last year when he told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that America is a "stupid country." He's faced heat for saying it. But, the truth is, he's right. We are a nation of uninformed, unintelligent dunderheads. And several recent polls show just that.
A Bloomberg poll in late October found a majority of likely voters thought federal income taxes for the middle class had gone up, the economy had shrunk and that TARP money wouldn't be recovered. In reality, none of this is true. But, that hasn't stopped Americans from believing it.
A separate Rasmussen poll also taken in late October found a whopping sixty-five percent of likely voters favored getting rid of the entire Congress and starting over. Voter frustration is real and understandable. The unemployment rate has barely budged. The home foreclosure crisis continues. And for many Americans, the future is uncertain. Those fears are real and legitimate. But, the "throw the bums out" mentality lacks any critical thinking. What good comes of blindly throwing out all members of Congress just because you're angry? Should we throw out the good members of Congress, too? It's no way to solve problems.
Our country is facing difficult times. No one is diminishing legitimate frustration or anger. But, Americans are ignorant, uninformed and irrational. Until that changes, we're stuck with the status quo.