The problem is not that Americans are stupid. The problem is that they (for the most part) are intellectually lazy. You see it in every high school. They ask, “how is knowing about the big bang theory going to help me get a job?” Americans live a sheltered life, free from having to know anything significant about the technology and science that has created our current standard of living. Do we need to know about Ohm’s law of electrical resistance in order to use electricity? Nope. Just plug it in and dry your hair.

The real concern comes in knowing that this intellectual laziness extends not only to details but to the very modern concepts that our civilization is based on. “The previous survey [found] that 70 percent of American adults do not understand the scientific process”. The scientific process (hypothesis –> experimentation/gathering of empiric data —> revision –> Theory –> wash rinse repeat –> Scientific Law) is what separates our civilization from the dark ages, ancient civilizations, superstition, and cavemen! If you want to prove that your hypothesis is correct the burden of proof lies on YOU to present the empiric evidence! It’s as basic as that! Science is not based on opinion or policy. It’s based on what can be proven experimentally and empirically. Are alien civilizations visiting our planet? I don’t know. Show me some evidence. Does John Edward actually communicate with the dead? I don’t know. Design an experiment. Wanting to believe in something does not make it true. The popularity of “pseudoscience” should come with the disclaimer; “novelty use for entertainment only, not for actual usage”.