We need Schoolhouse Rock.

"We know from survey results that two-thirds of people in the United States cannot even name all three branches of the national government,this is something to worry about."

"If anyone had put the question to one of my 9th-grade classmates or to me -- what are the three branches of government? -- none of us would have failed to answer."

"We must revive the basic civic knowledge that once came naturally to a teenage boy in a small town,"

All quotes attributed to Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter
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How did we get here? it seems as thought it was by design, a combination of the continuing dumbing down of America and the elimination of civics classes and social studies from our junior and senior high schools has contributed to the apathy of the American citizen and their lack of understanding of how their government works. It doesn't help matters that our news is now entertainment instead of investigative.

By removing these vital curricula from our educational system, new generations know nothing of labor movements, unions, Supreme Court decisions that changed the status quo, the Constitution, the bill of rights, etc etc . . . we are left with the slanted interpretations from the corporate media's personalities. (Personalities who are represented as news men and women.)

The best defense against the continuing corporate influence over of our government is an educated citizenry. Shortly after "Watergate", the public air waves became increasingly privately owned. Conservative think tanks following the manifest set down by Supreme court justice, Louis Powell; began to deconstruct the news gathering departments of the big three ABC, CBS, and NBC. Add to that, Rupert Murdock, a well known Uber conservative, starts up his own network. He purchases the rights to air the NFL and in just a couple of years, went from a start up company that is now the number one broadcasting outlet in the country. More people watch FOX than any of the others. The FOX news network successfully marketed themselves as unbiased "Fair and Balanced" yet their entire programming day consists of hosts that rail against the "Liberal media, War dissenters, and the Democrats. From their morning show on their programming day is chocked full of ex-beauty pageant anchors and angry clean cut former weather men pretending to be seasoned correspondence.

But enough about FOX they are just the big dog on the block all the other little yappers give us the viewer little more than "Gossip Rag" reporting and sensationalism with zero in depth coverage on the issues. And we the people get exactly what we deserve. The very few independent media that actually report the "news", flounder in the ratings. The average American citizen is so swamped with work, consumerism, organized sports for the kids, texting, bill paying, . . ." hamsters on the wheel". We are kept so busy just trying to stay afloat that when we sit in front of the TV. we want to be entertained. We don't want to think. How many of us ever stop and watch Cspan? The McNeil/ Leher report? If it wasn't for "Schoolhouse Rock"
not many in my generation would know how a bill becomes law. How many of us can name their representatives in congress or the senate?

Those who sway policy in the legislative branches, (the lobbyist) know that the public is all but clueless as to their activities and act with reckless abandon. In and before the "Watergate" era , a Washington beat reporter would have shed a bright light on this legal form of bribery. Almost by osmosis the public would learn about the workings on capital hill. An educated public is a lot more difficult to control and so, we have Hannity's, Limbaugh's, Beck's, O'reily's and yes even Keith Olbermann's Rachel Maddow's to do our thinking for us. However that latter two in this list tend to offer up less fear mongering, flag waving, and more balanced reporting. They actually criticize "their guys" for lack of spine and cow towing to the corporate interests. But along with that, Keith and Rachel like those on the right constantly parade the same faces day after day in front of the camera as "special correspondents". Rarely if ever, will the viewer get an unbiased accounting of whatever's being reported. Herein lies another part of the problem, the divide and conquer approach to the takeover of this country by corporate interests.

Keep the Right fighting the Left. As long as these two continue to blame the other for the country's woes, the focus on the real problem will remain blurry. This has become so very apparent as the health care reform issue has been completely over shadowed by the protests and the protesters rather than an examination of the bill. Or should we say the bills. There are several currently floating around congress. What is amazing is that many of those who oppose Health care reform fear socialized medicine while they currently enjoy the benefits of it. (Medicare and the V.A.) Those who are for Health Care reform are to busy arguing with the protesters instead of finding common ground. All the while, the Health Care industry continues to write the legislation through their lobby's influence.

I don't wish to be a defeatist but unless the American public educates themselves instead of parroting the rhetoric coming out of Washington, until students in school are taught the ins and outs of our democratic republic, until our junior and senior high text books once again, include civics lessons we will continue down this road of stupidity.

DaG Out