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Most Americans Lack Basic Political Knowledge: Survey

Less than 42% know Condi runs State; acumen better among highbrow-mag readers

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 16, 2008 3:36 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Only 18% of Americans can correctly name the current secretary of state, Britain’s prime minister and which party controls the US House, a LiveScience survey finds. Among the survey’s 3,612-person sample, more than half correctly said that the Democrats have a majority in the House, while 42% correctly identified Condoleezza Rice. Less than 30% said Gordon Brown is current UK prime minister.

The survey also asked where respondents got their news from, and found that only regular readers of the New Yorker, Atlantic, Weekly Standard and New Republic, along with regular viewers of Hardball and NPR listeners, had a majority of respondents who answered all three questions correctly. Puzzlingly, only 44% of Americans who watch the BBC could name Britain’s PM.

That Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats control the US House of Representatives is common knowledge to more than half of Americans, the survey finds.
That Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats control the US House of Representatives is common knowledge to more than half of Americans, the survey finds.   (AP Photo)
A survey finds that 42% of Americans could name Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State.
A survey finds that 42% of Americans could name Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State.   (AP Photo)
Less than 30% of Americans were able to name Gordon Brown as Britain's Prime Minister.
Less than 30% of Americans were able to name Gordon Brown as Britain's Prime Minister.   (AP Photo)
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Canadians are ignorant, too
Calgary Herald

 
education • New Yorker magazine • Gordon Brown • news • Public Knowledge • NPR • The Atlantic

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