A new survey of 1,502 adults released Sunday by Pew Research Center for the People & the Press found that despite the mass appeal of the Internet and cable news since a previous poll in 1989, Americans' knowledge of national affairs has slipped a little. For example, only 69% know that Dick Cheney is vice president, while 74% could identify Dan Quayle in that post in 1989.One of the things I did not find surprising:
Virtually bringing up the rear were regular watchers of Fox News. Only 1 in 3 could answer 2 out of 3 questions correctly.How can we ever hope to remain the world's greatest nation when so much of our population doesn't know the basics about its own government? When will Americans finally realize that knowing about their government and the decisions it makes is more important than knowing who won the sporting event from last night. Until we get our priorities straight nothing will change and in fact will get worse. Education has and will always remain the key to passing good public policy.
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