I would appear that a simple civics (and basic economics) test manages to fox most Americans. The so-called “average person” scores an appalling 49%, while (I would say, predictably) elected officials only score 44%.
Even when you take into account that the “average” person is… well, by definition… not one of our brightest lights, that’s still embarrassing. Are people just collectively picking their naval lint throughout life?
I’m a sucker for this kind of test. In fact, that’s what got me through school – the bad grades of others inspired me to rub their faces in it. It certainly wasn’t application of self or academic rigor.
In this interest of disclosure, I scored a disappointing 90.91%. I expected a 100%. (and I dispute one answer)
Take the quiz here, at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.
You can learn more about the findings here.
I learned of this quiz by way of Stranger Fruit.
49%… I’d expect to be able to do that well about civics in any of the world’s other English-speaking democracies.