Americans Are Not Stupid

Posted Jan 4, 2006 by Kevin Walker

Updated Jan 4, 2006 at 03:17 PM

We just, apparently, have difficulty paying attention for very long. Or, so argues James Bovard, author of Attention Deficit Democracy . Actually, maybe we are stupid. Bovard takes no prisoners in his argument that we, as a nation, have lost sight of the very tenants of freedom and democracy that the Founding Fathers wanted to establish. If there’s any doubt where Bovard is coming from, check out this first paragraph:

“Delusions about freedom and democracy are subverting peace and freedom. The American system of government is collapsing thanks to ignorant citizens, lying politicians, and government leashed neither by law or Constitution. While presidents and pundits harp on democracy’s inevitable spread around the world, it is perishing at home.”

Note his nice Nero reference in that last sentence.

For those who think war is a natural part of politics - sort of the ultimate expression of “I don’t agree with you” or, more likely, “You have something I want and I can’t be bothered with diplomacy” - Archaeology Magazine might have something of interest to you: The Archaeology of War. It covers centuries of facts uncovered, literally, by those who dig in the ground in search of historical truths. Check it out

here.. Here’s the sort of interesting cover, to liven things up a bit. Looks like the guy on the right is a goner.

On a lighter, and more interesting (to me) note, the improbably named Bunny Crumpacker has released The Sex Life of Food, in which the author explores the desire for food and for sex and how they sometimes act one on the other. Looks like she is going back pretty far, judging by the cover:

And finally, and on a completely different note, Sarasota’s own Blaize Clement offers the first in a new mystery series, Curiosity Killed The Cat Sitter. Another Sarasota writer, N.M. Kelly has released her third book. Whale Season.