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In reply to the discussion: Scientific illiteracy baffles me [View all]PJMcK
(22,037 posts)Good thoughts, Nitram.
Our education system has been dumbed-down for decades. The false belief in standardized testing has resulted in at least two generations of poorly educated Americans. This decay can be seen across all educational disciplines including math, science, languages, the arts and social studies. The result is huge numbers of Americans who really don't know very much.
I'm not certain I agree with your view of other countries, in general. As on example, India educates their people and the best and brightest come to the U.S. for their graduate studies and work.
You refer to people being "motivated to do some reading and study on their own." A quality education stimulates one's curiosity so you want to learn things. Why would someone stop learning at age 18 or 22 or 25? Learning should be a life-long pursuit and yet our systems have deteriorated because of ignorant, skin-flint politicians.
Science is a spectrum of disciplines which is why it is usually taught as Biology, Chemistry and Physics. These disciplines are all part of one big thing called the Universe but their interconnectedness isn't taught until the college level.
Lastly, there is a difference between the Left and the Right. The Right as a whole consistently denies facts until they are forced to accept them. On the Left, such intractableness is really just on the fringes. You generally don't see that level of denial from Democrats.