YOU GET WHAT YOU GET

            Census records reflect that only about 50 per cent of Americans vote. And that may be good for the country if a recent “on the street” interview conducted by Jessie Watters who appears on the Fox News Channel is any indication of how informed most people think. Hopefully the people he questioned will skip their right to vote and stay at home!

Unfortunately most of the “enlightened” people he interviewed last week will most likely do so. And if they do it is a good bet that they will resort to subjective rather objective reasons for picking a candidate—especially for President. But if applying any smarts after watching this particular interview by Watters exemplifies the wisdom and intelligence of the average “man on the street” then all that can be said is “Lord help us!”

Americans brag about their public schools. The teacher unions tout how grand they accomplish their task in educating the children entrusted to their care and what a marvelous education these youngsters benefit. Yet the answers of those interviewed by Watters may reflect the true product of such education.

And this is the reason why.

With the Presidential election heading towards the final months of November 2016, you would think that folks would be seriously pondering who to vote for. I must admit that I am a bit prejudiced since I favor conservatives so if this column seems to favor the right you have fair warning. What caught my attention of Watters interview actually staggered me. I have for years thought that there wasn’t anyone more obtuse than the average American voter but Watters questions to the “man on the street” proved it—at least for me. Here are a few questions he asked.

“Who is buried in “Grant’s Tomb” he randomly asked a few people. Their answers varied. One person about 30 paused and then answered, “George Washington?” He then asked another lady—I won’t guess her age, replied “Ronald Reagan?” Then Watters showed a map of the world and asked “Where are we?” Some people pointed to Canada, some South America. One person even picked out Africa! Not one person identified the United States!

But the one question that really stuck out for me was when people were asked, “Where was Jesus Christ born?” A young women simply responded, “…I’m not religious.” Another said Asia. One man who put a great deal of thought into the question answered “…In a hospital?”

Some time back I ran across a test on the internet that asked if a person could pass a simple eighth grade test that was required in 1910. I doubt that most average public school students could pass it. If your memory serves you then you will recall that in those days government had no involvement or control over public education!

In those days local school districts were the ones who hired quality teachers and saw to it that students received education in subjects as geography, math, English, curser writing, civil civics (and its responsibilities), reading and spelling. Teachers were hired on their ability and if they didn’t produce they were out the door. There were no teacher unions to protect the most incompetent.

But times have changed. Students are no longer taught the basics as illustrated above. Instead political correctness it now the vogue and anyone deviating from it is immediately punished. The simple basics of education is replaced with computers, altruistic concerns and unproven science.

I recall one school district administrator who objected to a calendar that merchants in town were selling as a school fund raiser that illustrated the birth dates of people who played a historical part in American history. What she objected to was a picture of General Robert E. Lee on his birth date. I must admit that after spending a great deal of time in the south and visiting many of the battle fields including Gettysburg, I can sympathize with both sides of the “War Between the States” commonly, and erroneously termed “the Civil War.” Again propaganda plays a part in distorting history. The old adage of “the spoils go to the victor” justifies such a slant of truth as professed by this administrator. And in schools today it’s the students who pay the price.

As a result of this abysmal situation there has been a push for charter schools, home schooling and private schools. But again “government” finds it necessary to shut down the majority of these forms of education. They are too much competition for bureaucratic domination.

Where will all of this lead?

For the more fortunate who can enroll in schools that DO teach they have the advantage. It is from this crop that the doctors, engineers, architects, and others will raise to the top. For those who have vocations in services as carpenters, plumbers, auto mechanics and every other such industry, they also will be providing a needed service.

But what about lawyers, politicians and community organizers—don’t we also need them? All I can say is look at the results of what we have today.

You get what you get.