Prophetic or pathetic

Are we becoming a nation of idiots?

One theme that continues to emerge throughout this presidential campaign is the notion of "elites".

Somehow education has become a wedge issue.

Folks on the right like to trump how they are against the so-called liberal east coast elites. It's a smoke and mirrors trick to make people think republicans are "like them" just working folks who live day to day.

It's too bad they are not.

Most of the people who spew these talking points, day in and day out on radio and television are elites themselves. Many are (gasp) Ivy League educated, lawyers or hold some sort of advanced degree. That's a lot more education than the "base" they are trying to "energize".

A few months ago the PBS news magazine NOW reported on a trend among some in the working class who always vote Republican despite how many Republican backed economic policies put them in the situation they are in now. Many of the folks they profiled were living paycheck to paycheck, facing rising fuel and fuel prices, and foreclosure.

These tactics are nothing new. It's happened throughout U.S. history the high class (or ruling class if you will) use the working (or lower class) as pawns to promote their cause while breaking their backs.

A few years ago Mike Judge (the man behind Beavis & Butthead, King of the Hill and Office Space) made a movie called Idiocracy.

One of its themes is society is getting dumb now and in 500 years we'll all be idiots.

The movie itself has sparked many on-line conspiracy theories. I remember reading about it coming out when I lived in Louisville, then nothing. Turns out its release was delayed about 6 months, then it only opened in a handful of cities. There were no press junkets, screenings or much advertising.

Idiocracy is OK. It's not great, there are some good ideas that end up half-baked. It's totally watchable, much more so then the usual Hollywood drivel.

Sadly, given the current climate, we may see the realities of Idiocracy before we know it.