The brightest and the dumbest?

My wife often reminds me that 77 millions Americans cast their vote for Trump — a choice that reflects how vulnerable our society has become to misinformation and shallow appeals. 

That huge number of ill-advised Trump supporters should not eclipse the existence of bright Americans, that predictably stand in much smallest numbers, but are still leading the way in the world. If the American K to 12 educational system is not the best globally, up until now, American universities have been leading the way throughout the world, thanks to their extensive investment in research provided by the governments we had until now. 

This divide between weak K‑12 and strong universities mirrors the divide in our electorate . Why Trump and his allies are vehemently attacking and trying to dismantle the only bright part of the American education system is obviously beyond me. It’s true that a mediocre secondary education system is fertile ground for forming gullible and acquiescing individuals who in turn fall prey to conspiracy theories that all have a destructive effect on an advanced society. 

This is why a large number of people act as if they were really dumber. A good, serious education is therefore key to a strong nation and particularly for those who only have a limited number of years in school. It would seem that the elitist approach favored by the billionaires now in charge of the Republican party is pushing against public schools, trying to weaken that institution, making it far less effective and with that, threatening the quality of education among the poorest among us. 

This shows, if we needed to see proof of it, how our political figures and a large portion of the US society have become deeply hypocritical and are cutting their nose to spite their face!