“The trouble with most folks isn't so much their ignorance, as knowing so many things that ain't so.”

In 2006 ignorance is appropriate, primarily because there is too much to keep track of. For example the tax code is extensive. Since most of it doesn't apply to any specific individual and it is so difficult to find what does apply that the IRS doesn't understand it, people are ignorant of it.

Hence, the problem with 99% of all graduating college students...

:) I like it

Ignorance the root of all evil and perpetuated by those in Power.

Sorry, but this reminded me of this quote: Nothing in education is so astonishing as the amount of ignorance it accumulates in the form of inert facts. Henry B. Adams

Fact: The United States is a Republic. see US Constitution Article IV, Section 4 Fiction: The Unites States is a Democracy. I revise my previous rating.

...for which we have so many fine examples.

We are bombarded with noise 24/7. Everywhere I look people have on iPods or are on the phone. Most of it means nothing and fills man's mind with the unimportant, meaningless drivel. Great Quote!

I think of the global warming nay sayers and the earth is flat crowd.

I think of Waffler and the other liberal morons who think we can solve the nations debt problem by raising taxes on the "Rich". Pelosi and Boxer would get waivers of course.

At 86 now, I recall my Grandmother had a phonograph ( a tall one with a crank to wind it up ) and a Josh Billings record ( or two ? ). He was "the funny man" of those days " - equivalent to Bob Hope ( or someone else ? )

Ultimately, are there any others who are more nearly "ignorant" than are they whose knowledge is uninformed by understanding?

Knowledge, decoupled from understanding, is deadly to the Human Race.

To the Wafflers of the world that add so much depth to the quote; I remember gas shortages with long lines when the Wafflers everywhere were screaming a warning that the world would run out of gas with in the next 15 to 20 years. Decades after Waffler's flat earthers were proved of "things that ain't so", they turned their "ignorance" towards the emissions of excessive use of that same fuel. I remember in President Nixon's day, those warning of global warming said Florida would be under water by the year 2000. Can real data, temperature readings and science show that there is a global warming? Yeah, probably? The cause of that warming is where the "ignorance" and "things that ain't so" raise trouble with most folks. Scientifically, folks are not taking into effect what the sun is doing, volcanic activity under the oceans, El Nino, times in measurable past where there was much higher levels of CO2 and the temperatures were cooler, etc., etc., etc. ALSO, on another note, the ignorant state of affairs where socialists believe more socialism will fix the existing problems created by socialism - "things that ain's so."

Mike, among lightless "progressives", Lysenkoism lives.

Well said, Mike!

Patrick Henry, I had to look up 'Lysenkoism' -- you're right on the money!

Thank you, E.