Americans Still Only Vaguely Understand July 4

[Lighthawk]

Last year, on the Friday before July 4, Marist released a poll proving that America's ignorance about its own history is a stereotype grounded in truth. It showed that 26 percent of Americans didn't know which country the United States gained its independence from. This year, Marist ran the same poll and came up with basically the same depressing results. A full 24 percent of Americans still can't identify Great Britain as the country we ditched on July 4, 1776. Oh, and about 1776: Only 58 percent of Americans could identify that as the year we declared independence.

Clearly, America needs to study up on its history a bit. So this Monday, at your July 4 barbecue/party/freedom orgy, instead of just eating a lot/drinking a lot/having sex with many different partners in the name of freedom, why not set aside some time to enlighten your fellow citizens about the founding of our country? Especially if Sarah Palin and/or Michele Bachmann and/or Herman Cain happen to be there. Happy Independence Day.

Source

Well that's just embarrassing.

[Deepcrush]

Civilians...

[Mikey]

Depressing, but completely unsurprising. Which, I suppose, is even more depressing...

[McAvoy]

I just wonder about these polls on how skewed they are from people who picks the "I Don't Know" choice because they don't care or just being a dick.

[Mikey]

I just wonder about these polls on how skewed they are from people who picks the "I Don't Know" choice because they don't care or just being a dick.

There's always a little of that, but generally less than you'd think. Honestly, don't underestimate the stupidity of the average American. Two colleagues of my wife - teachers, of all things - actually thought that Washington, D.C. was a city in West Virginia. TBF, these two teachers weren't born in the U.S. nor had they spent more than a small fraction of their lives here... but they were citizens.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Aye. A few people I know don't know the three branches of government.

Executive, legislative and judicial ftr.

[Foxbat]

...so, If you were running the USA, what would you make the criteria for becoming a citizen?



Conversely, if I wanted to become a citizen of, say, the UK, what would your criteria be for me to become one of their citizens?

[Mikey]

...so, If you were running the USA, what would you make the criteria for becoming a citizen?

The current criteria aren't the problem. The problem isn't even enforcement of those criteria. The problem is all the folks who are allowed to continue to be residents here without citizenship, permanent visas, or other legal resident status.

Conversely, if I wanted to become a citizen of, say, the UK, what would your criteria be for me to become one of their citizens?

[insert favorite "maximum IQ" joke here}

In all seriousness, do you mean a requirement from the U.S. end in order to become a British citizen? That makes no sense. Why would nation A have a requirement about nation B's citizenship criteria?

[Deepcrush]

...so, If you were running the USA, what would you make the criteria for becoming a citizen?

Minimum two year enlistment in the Armed Forces required for anyone, citizen by birth or hopeful citizen by transplant.
Basic understanding of the Social American language.
Registry in the Selective Service and Social Security Administration.

[Mikey]

or hopeful citizen by transplant.

Really? You'd want mandatory service from people who aren't yet citizens?

IDK, it works for Tzahal but that would make the U.S. Army such a money-sucking tar pit that it could easily collapse itself.

[Deepcrush]

Really? You'd want mandatory service from people who aren't yet citizens?

Its how my mother's family got into the US during the Civil War. Worked then, so no reason why it can't work now.

IDK, it works for Tzahal but that would make the U.S. Army such a money-sucking tar pit that it could easily collapse itself.

They wouldn't just be in the Army. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Air Nation Guard, Army National Guard, Coast Guard, Border Patrol are all in that list. Followed that it would also provide a way in for many who want to be US Citizens but can't afford to pay off the costs of being here legally and thus have to be here through other means. Which means that they'll likely never pay taxes, never get an education, never contribute as a whole to the nation. Two years, either active or reserve status (doesn't matter), gets them in the country and on the books for life. Means paying taxes and supporting the American economy for life.

Afterwards, they can apply for work with a stable reference, two years experience in a selected field, practice in a civil trade and a superior sense of loyalty and motivation to that of a civilian without the same history. You also have a constant influx of fresh recruits to fill positions at E-level pay rather then PMCs that are 100k+ a year or reactivating retired persons. That would cut the DoD costs in the end as you wouldn't have to worry about having a top heavy military. Someone in for two years is likely going to just be an E-3 maybe E-4, most will select Reserve status, so their overall pay cost will be less then 30k with another 10k in GI Bill.

Drop the US Welfare program and substitute this for that and you have a long term program to improve the nation as a whole.

[Tsukiyumi]

I like it. Agreed 100%.

[Mikey]

Excellent points. I'm just not convinced that the massive increase in bodies is going to make up for the general trend downward in average grade.

[Deepcrush]

I like it. Agreed 100%.

Excellent points.

Thank you.

I'm just not convinced that the massive increase in bodies is going to make up for the general trend downward in average grade.

The increase in numbers at arms isn't the point. More an increase in the numbers of those who've proven their motivation or have been helped to improve their motivation. The primary problem with people isn't intelligence but their motivation to use it. Along with a sense of moral character, honor, integrity and desire to serve not just one's self but as part of a greater whole. A person like that is also more likely to raise their children in such a positive manner. That is where the improvement comes from. Not now, not even five years from now, but in the future. With our children and their children. When raised in a place were honor and service is more important then self inflated ego and greed.

That is how you make up for the downward trend, by turning it around.

[Mikey]

You misunderstand me. I wasn't talking about any of the effects on individuals from service; I was merely responding the point about the economic effect within the services themselves. You had said that the increase in cost from the huge increase in the number of active-duty personnel would be offset by the decrease in the average pay grade within the services; I was just commenting that I thought the increase in numbers would far outweigh the savings realized by a lower average grade due to the lessening of the top-heavy nature.