The people have spoken.

Whoa. This today on Salon:

At the end of the first week of January, the Princeton Survey Research Associates polled more than 1,200 Americans on behalf of the Knight Ridder newspaper chain. They asked a very simple question: "To the best of your knowledge, how many of the September 11 hijackers were Iraqi citizens?"

Of those surveyed, only 17 percent knew the correct answer: that none of the hijackers were Iraqi. Forty-four percent of Americans believe that most or some of the hijackers were Iraqi; another 6 percent believe that one of the hijackers was a citizen of that most notorious node in the axis of evil. That leaves 33 percent who did not know enough to offer an answer.

Well, I guess the plan to roll out the new war product in the fall worked out pretty well -- they're certainly getting good brand recognition. Maybe they can pin Pearl Harbor on the Iraqis if they keep at it.

This story should be on the cover of every national newsweekly, with the headline: "People! Can we please just try to pay the slightest bit of attention?"

Comments

[Adam Rice]

Depends on whether it's the misunderinformed people who are voting.

[Steven]

If the current Bush administration wanted to take military action against Saudi Arabia, I would be all for backing that. However, I am fully against any action against the innocent citizens of Iraq. Any Bush administration attack against Iraq is all about personal revenge. The father of this unelected imbecile chose not to finish the job in 1991, why should his son get another shot at Hussein?

[ry rivard]

So, does this mean it's a good thing voter turnout is so low?

[David Weisman]

What worries me when I read something like this is what it might be that I don't know. Considering the number of people I meet who are smarter than me in one way or another, and that once in awhile you see a poll that 22% of the population believes "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" offered proof that two different sets of aliens collaborated to create our species ...

[ausyankee]

The other day I read 10 percent of Americans think Australia is an enemy nation or negative towards America, even as our warships steam towards the Gulf.

[cityzen]

Dude, it's my *God-given right* as an American to be uninformed. No one's going to tell me what I should and shouldn't know--it's a free country!

I'm actually serious. Most people really do believe that they shouldn't have to know anything about the rest of the world. Like the right to drive the biggest cars possible, or gorge ourselves with Bic Macs. Although we basically know these aren't the smartest things to do, we basically do them to give the rest of the world the finger. And screw them if they think we should lay off. Who's in charge here anyway?

Besides, Michael Jackson's nose is so much more fun to talk about than stinky North Korea, or Iraq, right?

[David Reeves]

Seems to me that the results might have been skewed more than a bit by the way the question was phrased, which seems to presume a connection between the hijackers and Iraq. It reminds me a bit of the survey asking Americans whether or not the US should annex Canada.

That doesn't entirely excuse the survey results, of course, and one would always hope that our population, let alone our electorate, would be well-informed.

It's also ironic that these stories get picked up by the national news media, when they themselves are really doing a poor job keeping most of us informed.

[dru]

Makes me think about how far we are from actually addressing terrorism intelligently.

If we're going to attack a country and cause thousands to die, wouldn't it be good to think about our own reaction to 9-11 first? Can we conceive of anything that would justify that action? If not, then how can we conceive of an action that would kill (at least) 10x more people and cause interminable suffering as being justified?

I would tend to think the same way about Saudi Arabia too, but I'm pretty clearly in the minority (though 1 in 5 americans seem to strongly oppose war for some reason, and that's not a bad start).

[dru]

Double-posting is tacky, but I wanted to point out that not only did Bush I not finish the job, but he didn't hand over captured Iraqi weapons to Sunni Muslims and Kurds who were in the midst of a widespread rebellion (during Gulf I) and asked for them. Then he selectively removed air cover, allowing Saddam to crush the rebellions with gunships. It's probably worth thinking about the reasons why.

[buscadores]

"The other day I read 10 percent of Americans think Australia is an enemy nation "
it couldn't be possible

[lds singles]

I don't agree spanish guy

[Abel]

Thanks for the good information. Keep up this great resource. Best greetings..

[consultoria]

very nice site!

[diseño]

thanks for the good and interesant information

[diseño web]

this site contain good information and good design, congratulations!

[Juegos]

"The other day I read 10 percent of Americans think Australia is an enemy nation "
it couldn't be possible :-)

[Diseño web]

"The other day I read 10 percent of Americans think Australia is an enemy nation "
it couldn't be possible :-)

[iconos]

Thanks for the good information. . Best greetings, friends.

[Bajar programas]

Really grear! Its looks very nice!

[Spanish courses spain Salamanca]

Really grear! Its looks very nice!

[Gioia]

Thanx very much for the information. I've solved many doubts i had! :)

[Roymarketing]

>> This story should be on the cover of every national newsweekly...

One day it will be!! :)

[Mery]

Thanx for your page!

[hentai]

Really grear! Its looks very nice!

[pepe]

great page