Today’s Dilbert cartoon has a wonderful line in the last panel: “And you’re programmed to scoff at what I just said.”
Ironically, I often get that same reaction to my articles. If I had a beer for every time someone labeled me a “crazy old coot” – or a @#$@$@ SOB etc. – then — I’d have a lot of beer.
Why is it that the vast majority of government abuses and failures never show up on people’s radar screens, or are merely one or two blips and then forever gone? Many citizens disdain the specific details of government policies—refusing to notice the screws, levers, and threats that government officials apply to compel people to submit.
If only Congress would enact a law to require high school civics classes to accurately portray government power…
Oooh! Oooh! I know this one! Pick me, pick me!!! OOOOOOOHHHH!!!! PICK ME!!!!!!
The reason that “the vast majority of government abuses and failures never show up on people’s radar screens” is because a) a majority of people are publik skool grajuatez and are thus likely, by definition, to be “clueless” and b) all too often the abuses are committed against Those People (for whatever value of “Those People” you’d care to select) and They The People actively *approve* of the abuses (or failures) of others, and c) see a) above.
So, Lawhobbit, you think we could fix this if the schools had better civics textbooks?
Couldn’t hurt. Schools that encouraged and taught critical thinking, independence, and a healthy skepticism for “authority” would be a waaaay better deal, though. Unfortunately, that’s not what they’re designed to do. MORE unfortunately, they *are* doing exactly what they’re supposed to – train sheeples.