A Watered Down Culture

At first, the ideas presented in Chris Hedges America the Illiterate brought about feelings of complete shock. The idea that the majority of our modern society, with its complex computers and other technological advances, could be descending to the mindset of a 10 year-old was almost unfathomable. Then I considered the other advaces our society has made, mainly in the genre of entertainment. With the ever updating means of technology comes the capability of spreading entertainment farther at a much faster pace.

 Even with this new view on literacy, the rising statistics of the illiterate remained staggering. It is almost impossible to grasp the concept that about one third of America's population survives day to day on familiar brand names and image filled restaurants alone; most of them capable of serving only fellow illiterates. I would personally be lost if I did not have the ability to help myself with daily tasks such as, paperwork, driving, and being able to determine the dosage for medicine. Presidential candidates have started to "dumb down" their speeches to appeal to the illiterate of our population. 

Americans have traded in their once highly valued knowledge and education for entertainment. As if this fact were not disturbing enough, it is something politicians are preying on. They use the weaknesses of those that cannot serve themselves to get ahead in polls and elections. With user friendly images and slogans they can sway the vote of the illiterates without much effort.   Hedges uses an example that, after doing the math, is quite an eye opener. The election debate between Lincoln and Douglas was presented at an average grade level of 11.6. The 2000 debate between Bush and Gore was only a 7.2 grade level average. I personally would not want a president that presented himself at 4.4 grade levels less than that of previous presidents.

America needs to bring back the valued days of education and use these great technological advances for the betterment of human kind. Educating instead of catering to the needs of the illiterate could completely reshape not only America, but the world as a whole.