Americans Flunk Basic Civics - But boy, do we know our American Idol.

National Review Online ^ | November 21, 2008 | Deroy Murdock

[Don W]

Only 88%, but I dispute one of my “wrong” answers.

I answered that if gov’t expenses equal tax receipts, there is no debt. The “correct” answer was that gov’t expenditure per citizen was equal.

I got all the history and political correct, mind you. Just a bit weaker than I’d like to admit being on the economic front. Time for some more reading of Mises etc.

[theJoker]

I sure wish this was surprising. It’s like finding out that the surgeon who will be performing your operation has, instead of medical certifications, barely adequate qualifications in food preparation. And the anesthesia is just kicking in, and the room is spinning...

[markman46]

umm 28/33

[thefrankbaum]

Just because you've current balanced revenues (taxes) and expenses (spending) doesn't mean that you had done the same in past years. Some of that spending may be on debt service - you just aren't adding new debt.

Then again, I got 100%, so I may be a bit of a know-it-all :-P

[IoCaster]

Thanks for the post and the new tagline.

"No nation is permitted to live in ignorance with impunity. " - Thomas Jefferson

[IoCaster]

Again, my thanks.

[TWfromTEXAS]

You answered 31 out of 33 correctly — 93.94 %

Average score for this quiz during November: 78.0%
Average score: 78.0%

[Chesterbelloc]

You answered 32 out of 33 correctly — 96.97 %

missed #27

[Don W]

I was thinking “in toto”, not for a single reporting period, therefore my argument is just as valid as yours, smarty-pants! (LOL)

Congrats on the perfect, though.

[Tench_Coxe]

Aced it.

[Tench_Coxe]

Actually, C is correct because the government tries to inject money into the business cycle (sometimes called "priming the pump"). The problem since at least the LBJ presidency is that the government has tended to follow "A", even in times of an expanding economy, the Reagan years and post 1994 Clinton years excepted. Although Bush 43 did not increase taxes, he did increase massive deficit spending.

Problem now is, the US government does not have much maneuvering room to pursue "C", risking hyperinflation and people less willing to buy debt in the form of treasury bonds/bills (i.e., the US credit worthiness is shot).

[deadhead]

"I aced this one. I think I spend too much time reading. :-}"

I am average, I should read more :-)

[upchuck]

Hanging my head in shame - scored 87.

[yield 2 the right]

More proof that “American Idol” is not a good thing at all....

[deadhead]

"I am average, I should read more :-)

Just to clarify, average meaning 78%

[MrB]

Seriously, and I do mean seriously,

my 3 1/2 yr old knows more about economics than Barry.

[MrB]

This “ignorantifying” America was

NOT

an accident.

And we saw the results of that agenda in the last election.

[B Knotts]

You answered 32 out of 33 correctly — 96.97 %

I missed the one about tax per person equals government spending per person.

[rednekelmo]

You answered 30 out of 33 correctly — 90.91 %
not perfect but for a dumb truckdriver who’s 20years out of school I’m not to upset with myself

[gitmo]

Missed 1.