Are Some Americans Really This Ignorant?

Someone please reaffirm my belief that most Americans aren't so damn ignorant of what's going on around them. Please.

The latest news has done nothing to ease my fears.

First, we have this poll that was taken; 502 adults were polled, it says. Well, we know what they were asked, so the only question left is where in the hell did they call people? It sure looks like they made an effort to contact every Bush supporter in the country (those who are left, that is).

This is what saddens me:

45. It's been reported that the National Security Agency has been collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans. It then analyzes calling patterns in an effort to identify possible terrorism suspects, without listening to or recording the conversations. Would you consider this an acceptable or unacceptable way for the federal government to investigate terrorism? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?

Acceptable:
NET: 63
Strongly: 41
Somewhat: 22

Unacceptable:
NET: 35
Somewhat: 11
Strongly: 24

No opin: 2


46. If you found out that the NSA had a record of phone numbers that you yourself have called, would that bother you, or not? IF YES: Would it bother you a lot, or just somewhat?

Yes:
NET: 34
A lot: 24
Somewhat: 10
No: 66
No opin: *

(Click here to read a blogger's opinion of polling problems--like the fact that since the spying scandal was brought to the open, in other polls conducted, a majority of Americans, every time, have not agreed with warrantless eavesdropping.)

Yeah, obviously, a lot of people aren't afraid of the NSA overhearing about their chicken recipes and hemorrhoids. If you've got nothing to hide, then you shouldn't be worried, right?

Then there's this gem. Bush is contemplating deploying troops to the US/Mexico border. As if we have troops to spare, but in any case, WHY? What in the hell is border patrol for, then? And what about the Minutemen who are on stakeout already? Aren't these people good enough? (And why, oh why am I reminded of the Kent State tragedy from 1970? That celebrated its anniversary at the beginning of the month, by the way.)

In any case, we have another race war ahead of us, if this statement from John Gibson of FOX News can be considered an indicator:

Summary: On The Big Story, John Gibson urged viewers to "[d]o your duty. Make more babies," because he had found out, from a recently released report, that nearly half of all children under the age of five in the United States are minorities. Gibson added: "You know what that means? Twenty-five years and the majority of the population is Hispanic." Gibson later repeated: "To put it bluntly, we need more babies."

If you thought you'd seen the last of the civil rights wars, think again. This time the target isn't African-Americans (who are still getting discriminated against in certain places, by the way) but the descendants of our neighbors to the South.

What sickens me is that people are buying into this crap, bleating sheep that they are. What is wrong with this country? What happened to the progress we made?

Is there any hope for this country? Right now, I just don't know. Maybe someone can show me the clouds' silver linings.

Tags: [Washington Post/ABC News poll shows that Americans approve of illegal eavesdropping], [how can 63% be so stupid?], [John Gibson], [Gibson insists Whitey needs to make more babies to defeat Hispanics], [Bush contemplates sending National Guard to Mexican border], [another Kent State in the making?], [what's happened to America?], [targeting Hispanics: the new race war in America]