I think you have it right on all counts and, to answer your title question: Yes, as a generalisation, the evidence supports that such is the case.
A biased media, much tragically incompetent and simplistic reporting, an appetite by the public for the sensational, puerile trivia such as (not) reality tv, a false and selfish view of what constitutes 'success', a lack of compassion or caring for the disadvantaged, rampant prejudice against all manner of difference, and a legacy belief that 'America rules the World' - or some such, all mitigate against rational and reasonable decision-making.
When one adds to that, massive and ever increasing disparity between haves and have nots, the willingness to spend, (for most), exorbitant amounts for tickets to entertainment but but donate little or nothing to prevent homelessness and poverty, a school system that favours the wealthy whilst state schools go without and their teachers are poorly paid and overworked while coping with all manner of socially downtrodden and problematic students, support for an evangelistic money making industry which promotes myth and madness, a police 'force' which does not treat all equally, and a support for public ownership of guns that is completely sick and at odds with repeated tragedies they cause ... at what other conclusion could one arrive?
That is particularly true because despite my long list of issues there are many more that are just as bad or even worse, the continued supply of weapons and funding to Israel, for instance.
Dumb - yes. Against that pervasive dumbness, sadly, those who are capable of critical thought and reason, rationality and worthy example tend to be drowned out. In 2024, the USA collective IQ average is rated at 97, a score 27th among the 197 nations in the World. (The 'average' IQ for an individual is considered to be a rating within the range from 85 - 115)
Even allowing for debates among methods of calculation, the reality is that this is the conclusion of many assessments, not only one and includes many factors. Also, even if the techniques cannot be considered 100% accurate, the same ones are used for all. One must wonder how the USA, with all its wealth, inventiveness, innovation, scientific achievement and such can rate as low as 27th.
The sorts of factors I mentioned when I began this unintentionally long comment give the clue.
Dumb - yes and getting dumber by the day. If Trump is elected there will not even be room for debate, it will go without saying and the USA will be the laughing stock of the World.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. There have been many. Which makes me feel our collective IQ is better than those numbers indicate. Mine tested at 145 when I was young but they made the mistake of telling me, which actually made me lazy! I do not think our country is full of dumbshits but I do think PR people are manipulating people who can’t ba bothered to inform themselves. Wake up folks. M
I admire your positive attitude and feeling but, although I have long recognised the many flaws there can be with IQ assessment, there are many assessment that place the US 'collective IQ' at or close to this number. Not only that but when one looks at the assessments over time, it is clear that there has not been a great deal of movement year by year and what there has been shows decline.
I suggest that your reactions to the numbers are a reflection caused by your own intellectual level and use of your intelligence which - although I know only a little about you - has probably caused you to read widely, learn to think critically, be objective and discuss with others of similar bent. So, yes, I can certainly agree that there are many who do not fit the characterisation provided by the generalised, collective average but in a population of 365,000 (?) or so, 'many' may still be a very small proportion.
I also don't find it hard to accept because of the many factors about the society that I mentioned and probably many others that I didn't. Crassness is common, sadly. It is dangerous for me to say it and will be vigorously denied by many because of misunderstanding. I am not suggesting that the nations is replete with mean, nasty or ignorant people who are to *blame* for the mess currently extant. Conditioning and indoctrination, not least by self-styled evangelists, Christian nationalists, gun-toting enthusiasts and devotees of aggressive sports and patently lnfantile film, television and such has an insidious effect on how and what people think.
Anyway, I am not meaning to be recalcitrant or dismissive of your views or feelings, indeed I admire them so I will shut up and go away. I just wanted to explain for fear that my comment be taken as a put down of individuals. It was not meant that way. We are all the result of many influences and many of those involuntary or unrecognised. We ought not to be blamed for that, regardless of its result.
I admire your positive attitude and feeling but, although I have long recognised the many flaws there can be with IQ assessment, there are many assessment that place the US 'collective IQ' at or close to this number. Not only that but when one looks at the assessments over time, it is clear that there has not been a great deal of movement year by year and what there has been shows decline.
I suggest that your reactions to the numbers are a reflection caused by your own intellectual level and use of your intelligence which - although I know only a little about you - has probably caused you to read widely, learn to think critically, be objective and discuss with others of similar bent. So, yes, I can certainly agree that there are many who do not fit the characterisation provided by the generalised, collective average but in a population of 365,000 (?) or so, 'many' may still be a very small proportion.
I also don't find it hard to accept because of the many factors about the society that I mentioned and probably many others that I didn't. Crassness is common, sadly. It is dangerous for me to say it and will be vigorously denied by many because of misunderstanding. I am not suggesting that the nations is replete with mean, nasty or ignorant people who are to *blame* for the mess currently extant. Conditioning and indoctrination, not least by self-styled evangelists, Christian nationalists, gun-toting enthusiasts and devotees of aggressive sports and patently lnfantile film, television and such has an insidious effect on how and what people think.
Anyway, I am not meaning to be recalcitrant or dismissive of your views or feelings, indeed I admire them so I will shut up and go away. I just wanted to explain for fear that my comment be taken as a put down of individuals. It was not meant that way. We are all the result of many influences and many of those involuntary or unrecognised. We ought not to be blamed for that, regardless of its result.
You are right on all counts. I am kind of surprised that AOC and some other progressives are supporting Biden. However I actually do think that the Democrats would probably win if they do put forward another candidate. Biden has managed to accomplish some legislation in spite of Republican blockage ... and he is not alone and has advisors who help make policy, some good people have resigned over the cynical support for Israel. I think seeing some other candidates could be positive for so many voters tired of choosing between two old men. And that is the only reason Bernie Sanders should not step forward. But he would be our best President.
Please stop adding fuel to the fire by insisting that he stop running his campaign.
I will take him in less than a heartbeat even if he were older than Methuselah. He’s done a great job — and we should continue to let low information voters know about Project 2025 and its fascistic wannabe mini-Fuhrers.
How anyone could vote for that bloated orange macaroon is beyond me.
I think you have it right on all counts and, to answer your title question: Yes, as a generalisation, the evidence supports that such is the case.
A biased media, much tragically incompetent and simplistic reporting, an appetite by the public for the sensational, puerile trivia such as (not) reality tv, a false and selfish view of what constitutes 'success', a lack of compassion or caring for the disadvantaged, rampant prejudice against all manner of difference, and a legacy belief that 'America rules the World' - or some such, all mitigate against rational and reasonable decision-making.
When one adds to that, massive and ever increasing disparity between haves and have nots, the willingness to spend, (for most), exorbitant amounts for tickets to entertainment but but donate little or nothing to prevent homelessness and poverty, a school system that favours the wealthy whilst state schools go without and their teachers are poorly paid and overworked while coping with all manner of socially downtrodden and problematic students, support for an evangelistic money making industry which promotes myth and madness, a police 'force' which does not treat all equally, and a support for public ownership of guns that is completely sick and at odds with repeated tragedies they cause ... at what other conclusion could one arrive?
That is particularly true because despite my long list of issues there are many more that are just as bad or even worse, the continued supply of weapons and funding to Israel, for instance.
Dumb - yes. Against that pervasive dumbness, sadly, those who are capable of critical thought and reason, rationality and worthy example tend to be drowned out. In 2024, the USA collective IQ average is rated at 97, a score 27th among the 197 nations in the World. (The 'average' IQ for an individual is considered to be a rating within the range from 85 - 115)
Even allowing for debates among methods of calculation, the reality is that this is the conclusion of many assessments, not only one and includes many factors. Also, even if the techniques cannot be considered 100% accurate, the same ones are used for all. One must wonder how the USA, with all its wealth, inventiveness, innovation, scientific achievement and such can rate as low as 27th.
The sorts of factors I mentioned when I began this unintentionally long comment give the clue.
Dumb - yes and getting dumber by the day. If Trump is elected there will not even be room for debate, it will go without saying and the USA will be the laughing stock of the World.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. There have been many. Which makes me feel our collective IQ is better than those numbers indicate. Mine tested at 145 when I was young but they made the mistake of telling me, which actually made me lazy! I do not think our country is full of dumbshits but I do think PR people are manipulating people who can’t ba bothered to inform themselves. Wake up folks. M
I admire your positive attitude and feeling but, although I have long recognised the many flaws there can be with IQ assessment, there are many assessment that place the US 'collective IQ' at or close to this number. Not only that but when one looks at the assessments over time, it is clear that there has not been a great deal of movement year by year and what there has been shows decline.
I suggest that your reactions to the numbers are a reflection caused by your own intellectual level and use of your intelligence which - although I know only a little about you - has probably caused you to read widely, learn to think critically, be objective and discuss with others of similar bent. So, yes, I can certainly agree that there are many who do not fit the characterisation provided by the generalised, collective average but in a population of 365,000 (?) or so, 'many' may still be a very small proportion.
I also don't find it hard to accept because of the many factors about the society that I mentioned and probably many others that I didn't. Crassness is common, sadly. It is dangerous for me to say it and will be vigorously denied by many because of misunderstanding. I am not suggesting that the nations is replete with mean, nasty or ignorant people who are to *blame* for the mess currently extant. Conditioning and indoctrination, not least by self-styled evangelists, Christian nationalists, gun-toting enthusiasts and devotees of aggressive sports and patently lnfantile film, television and such has an insidious effect on how and what people think.
Anyway, I am not meaning to be recalcitrant or dismissive of your views or feelings, indeed I admire them so I will shut up and go away. I just wanted to explain for fear that my comment be taken as a put down of individuals. It was not meant that way. We are all the result of many influences and many of those involuntary or unrecognised. We ought not to be blamed for that, regardless of its result.
Take care. Stay safe. ☮️
I admire your positive attitude and feeling but, although I have long recognised the many flaws there can be with IQ assessment, there are many assessment that place the US 'collective IQ' at or close to this number. Not only that but when one looks at the assessments over time, it is clear that there has not been a great deal of movement year by year and what there has been shows decline.
I suggest that your reactions to the numbers are a reflection caused by your own intellectual level and use of your intelligence which - although I know only a little about you - has probably caused you to read widely, learn to think critically, be objective and discuss with others of similar bent. So, yes, I can certainly agree that there are many who do not fit the characterisation provided by the generalised, collective average but in a population of 365,000 (?) or so, 'many' may still be a very small proportion.
I also don't find it hard to accept because of the many factors about the society that I mentioned and probably many others that I didn't. Crassness is common, sadly. It is dangerous for me to say it and will be vigorously denied by many because of misunderstanding. I am not suggesting that the nations is replete with mean, nasty or ignorant people who are to *blame* for the mess currently extant. Conditioning and indoctrination, not least by self-styled evangelists, Christian nationalists, gun-toting enthusiasts and devotees of aggressive sports and patently lnfantile film, television and such has an insidious effect on how and what people think.
Anyway, I am not meaning to be recalcitrant or dismissive of your views or feelings, indeed I admire them so I will shut up and go away. I just wanted to explain for fear that my comment be taken as a put down of individuals. It was not meant that way. We are all the result of many influences and many of those involuntary or unrecognised. We ought not to be blamed for that, regardless of its result.
Take care. Stay safe. ☮️
I'm actually feeling positive about the lefts chances.
You are right on all counts. I am kind of surprised that AOC and some other progressives are supporting Biden. However I actually do think that the Democrats would probably win if they do put forward another candidate. Biden has managed to accomplish some legislation in spite of Republican blockage ... and he is not alone and has advisors who help make policy, some good people have resigned over the cynical support for Israel. I think seeing some other candidates could be positive for so many voters tired of choosing between two old men. And that is the only reason Bernie Sanders should not step forward. But he would be our best President.
There is no “Biden or whomever.” It’s Biden.
Please stop adding fuel to the fire by insisting that he stop running his campaign.
I will take him in less than a heartbeat even if he were older than Methuselah. He’s done a great job — and we should continue to let low information voters know about Project 2025 and its fascistic wannabe mini-Fuhrers.
How anyone could vote for that bloated orange macaroon is beyond me.