The fact that almost 50% of the American population voted for someone like trump speaks volumes

[bluecollar2]

About our education system.

Clearly, one of the priorities over the next 180 days is for the establishment of an independent commission to look into our education system and to provide a report on what exactly is going on.

What is most important is that they NOT make any specific recommendations...it's time for our public officials to be held accountable.

The idea, that in this day and age we can be so polarized is incomprehensible...to me.

[Bev54]

1. Well I am not really sure that is the problem

The younger voters overwhelmingly voted for Biden.

[c-rational]

2. And talk radio, ownership of media by Murdoch, and new Internet ready Fairness Doctrine, and

jail time for all who spread disinformation.

[Skittles]

3. what it tells me is

propaganda has worked but I think younger folk are much more savvy about finding the truth

[GeorgeGist]

4. 50% or the American population is ...

below average.

[Clearly fogged in]

5. Kick devos into the gutter.

That's immediate.
Then determine if almost 50% of the population understands what ideas are.
It seems difficult.

[we can do it]

6. Half the population didn't vote.

About 66% of eligible adults are registered voters. We hit around 85% participation this time, I think. He had less than half the total actual votes.
So more like a third.

[IndianaDave]

14. You make an important observation --

I keep seeing statistics that are skewed because people continue to equate the voting population with our nation’s population. Things are bad, but not quite as dire as 50% of our country being lost in Trump's conspiracy theories, or choosing him to lead us into the future. Thank you for your clarification. Math matters.

[we can do it]

17. You're welcome.

[judesedit]

7. You're right about our educational system, but emachine hacking got him that many votes

I think about 25% to 35% of this country are hatemongers, racists, sexist, homophobic, violent, and ignorant. Not really 50%. Lol. I like my deduction better. No disrespect intended.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. It also means that they are willing to cheat as hell to get their way.

DO NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT!!!

[AnnaLee]

9. One segment is evangelicals.

They are trading memes showing Trump posed for pious pictures, Trump hugging the US flag, having pray chains for a miracle win, etc. For example, one question on a meme was asking why no one is looking for missing Republican ballots.

[Blue_true]

10. I had a chance discussion with one of those people today.

Even in republican led states, they believe that democrats are counting the votes and preventing Trump people from watching the count, on top of that, they claim that democrats are putting pizza boxes up to the windows so that no one can look in. That was just the tip of that lunacy iceberg. Trying to have a rational conversation with some of them works out about as well as me trying to catch a rabid squirrel with my bare hands. Others actually know better, but they must support the republican tribe.

[Thekaspervote]

11. It's not actually 50% of the American population. More like 23-25% or 47-48% of the voters

[ThoughtCriminal]

12. Fundamentalist Evangelical "Christians"

Their numbers are diminishing as they alienate younger Americans.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

13. Well, look at how polarized we are right here on DU, on many issues.

For instance, I think you're nuts.

The problem is not the education system. At least, that's not where the fault lies. Teachers are constrained more and more by parents who fight against us teaching their kids anything that goes against the belligerent ignorance of the parents.

You've got the massive power of RW media brainwashing that community into believing crazier and crazier BS, with two major themes being:
Democrats are evil
(Real) education is evil.

[central scrutinizer]

15. There's 240 million eligible voters

So it’s less than 30% voting for Drumpf. Almost as bad is the fact that an even larger percentage didn’t bother to vote. Another indictment of the education system

[procon]

16. The problem with education

is that it does not place a high priority on developing critical thinking skills from an early age. Without being able to analyse the deluge of information being thrown at us nonstop, how does the average TV watcher know the difference between real news, fact or fiction, or an opinion commentary? I doubt that even half of Americans can separate truth from propaganda.

Maybe TV news needs an independent certification stamp to help news consumers distinguish between real news, opinions, fiction stories and propaganda. That would work better than the old fairness doctrine which was mired in problems.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

19. The problem with that is the problem with everything now--

who will make the judgement on what's real vs fake news? Nearly half the electorate believe Trump is the ultimate truth teller. No committee, or certification board, or anyone s going to convince them otherwise.

The fix is in. The brainwashing is complete. Most of those people are lost to objective evaluation of political fact forever.

As for teaching critical thinking skills--perversely, that's exactly what Rs don't want and have made sure schools can't do, especially if that logical thinking is applied to any political issue.

[MaryMagdaline]

18. I put the non voters in the same category with Trump voters

If you don’t vote you are happy with the status quo or at least not willing to do anything about it. By not voting you’re letting everything stay the same.