Americans Fail Civics Test

The Bulletin ^ | 11/20/2008 | Michael P. Tremoglie

[William Tell 2]

Politicians scored the worst. Democrats or Republicans?

http://www.thebulletin.us/site/index.cfm?newsid=20203827&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=8

[aruanan]

You answered 32 out of 33 correctly — 96.97 %

I don't see how the answer to the one about government taxes equaling government spending is not "the government debt is zero." If what the government takes in in taxes equals spending, then how could the debt not be zero? They said the answer was that government spending per person equals government taxation per person. Okay, I can see that if they're talking average spending and average taxation, this would be true on the average. But given that most of income to the government comes from a relatively small number of people, then this isn't strictly true and wouldn't have to be true if government spending exactly equaled government revenue through taxation. However, if the government didn't spend any more than it took in through taxation, then it would have a zero debt.

[Forrestfire]

90.91%

[Collier]

I got 78.79%

[Round 9]

I missed 3 as well. All were in the last five questions. On one I put what I wished would happen. That’s still 91%.

[tx_eggman]

This is not Breaking news. Would like to see it in Front Page News, where everyone gets a shot at it, and where it belongs.

Slow day in your neck of the woods Issaquahking?

[Round 9]

I missed that as well. Might it be debatable?

[Comstock1]

Drat! I missed #33 after I went back and changed my answer. But I can live with a 96.97% grade.

[Dead Corpse]

I suppose it could be. But government spending unchecked increases debt load which can lead to inflation. It also mandates an increase in taxes at some later date to compensate. You cannot continue to rack up debt as a government without running into these artificial "boom/bust" cycles they've got us death spiraling in to.

Free markets with minimal interference fluctuate. It's natural. It's even desirable in some instances as it allows for more opportunity to invest at lower prices.

What we are dealing with now is to be laid directly at the Fedgov's feet. 100%...

[WayneS]

I disagreed with their answer on a couple of the economic questions (the two I missed, obviously).

I ALSO cannot understand what these have to do with civics.

Of course, I also missed one of the FDR questions, which I should have known.

[7thson]

Slacker! 8-)

[princeofdarkness]

I'm with you. I answered the same way. Would have gotten an 84.8% mark. Very debatable answer.

[PittsburghAfterDark]

Scored an 81.82% missed 6.

[DPMD]

Okay, I took the test, but found that one question - the most important of all questions facing public school students today - was missing:

When voting, do you support the wise, all-knowing, beautiful and perfect healer, the one with “D” after his name, or the monster who eats unborn children and repeatedly rapes his slaves, the one with “R” after his name?

Face it, if you’re NEA, do you want thinkers or voters?

[mc5cents]

I missed #14 and 30.

[erkyl]

[Collier]

That’s why I love this site. Everyone’s smarter than me. You learn a lot that way. :)

[MARTIAL MONK]

They wouldn't tell me my score. They just said to stay away from sharp objects and to sit quietly and I would be contacted by the Obama 2012 Vice-Presidential Search Committee.

Is that good?