Why people think Americans are stupid...

[MechAg94]

We are rich because we still have a society that rewards hard work and accomplishment.  We don't have societal classes.  If a poor kid works hard and does well, he can become rich and no one will tell him he can't.    A poor man can work hard and put his kids through school and see his kids do better than him.  I don't know if that attitude is really that prevalent in some other countries.  Certainly in many, the economic system is so bad it is nearly impossible.

I guess we also have a fairly stable economic system and decent rule of law so investment is encouraged rather than discouraged.

[gunsmith]

I ran into the exact same stupidity in Europe.
It is universal

[mfree]

Half the people out there are of below average intelligence*.

*even then, intelligence and education aren't mutually exclusive.

[Perd Hapley]

I'm surprised no one has blamed me yet.   

[wmenorr67]

I'm surprised no one has blamed me yet.   

No fistful it is Bush's fault.

[BrokenPaw]

Half the people out there are of below average intelligence*.
*even then, intelligence and education aren't mutually exclusive.

I would say that it's probably more than half, mfree.

That is, if by "average", you are referring to the mean.

As an aside, intelligence is over-rated.  Intelligence is merely the ability to collect, categorize, and analyze information.  Wisdom is the ability to understand what that information means. 

In my experience, a wise person of low or average intelligence is far less dangerous to himself and others than an unwise person of high intelligence.

It's the difference between knowing that you can do something, versus knowing whether you should.

-BP

[Manedwolf]

Half the people out there are of below average intelligence*.
*even then, intelligence and education aren't mutually exclusive.

I would say that it's probably more than half, mfree.

That is, if by "average", you are referring to the mean.

As an aside, intelligence is over-rated.  Intelligence is merely the ability to collect, categorize, and analyze information.  Wisdom is the ability to understand what that information means. 

In my experience, a wise person of low or average intelligence is far less dangerous to himself and others than an unwise person of high intelligence.

It's the difference between knowing that you can do something, versus knowing whether you should.

-BP

Well, I wouldn't say that, exactly. Intelligence can also be the ability to see a problem and come up with a solution quickly. In a lot of situations, that does require the ability to reason, do mathematical operations, and visualize the complex interaction of factors to come up with that solution. An intelligent person will "think quickly", moreso than a so-called slow-witted sort. And yes, it is a survival skill.

Those who are more intelligent are also more able to read and understand the documents of their ancestors, thus learning history, rather than repeating it.

And finally, a more intelligent sort is more able to reason and change their mind when presented with a new set of facts...to absorb and quickly rethink their own position or rationale, rather than blindly denying and clinging to their previous position regardless of new information on changing situations.