Needed: Political boot camp for students

11-15-2011

Guest blog by Mark Phillips/Washington Post

I was recently accosted in San Francisco by a young woman who wanted me to sign a petition attacking one of the 2012 presidential candidates. But she knew little about the candidate she was opposing or the other candidates. It was evident that she was clueless about the complexities of American politics. Then a highly intelligent friend told me that he didn’t plan to vote in the 2012 presidential election because none of the candidates were “in touch with the coming revolution,” represented by the anti-Wall Street protests. I said there were great differences among the candidates on many issues, but I think my attempt was fruitless. This reflects what studies commonly show: Vast ignorance among Americans about our political system and the complexities of political decision-making. Only 24 percent of high school seniors scored at the proficient level on the 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress on civics. (more...)

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