“[T]here seems to have been an actual decline in rational thinking. The United States had become a place where entertainers and professional athletes were mistaken for people of importance. They were idolized and treated as leaders; their opinions were sought on everything and they took themselves just as seriously—after all, if an athlete is paid a million or more a year, he knows he is important ... so his opinions of foreign affairs and domestic policies must be important, too, even though he proves himself to be ignorant and subliterate every time he opens his mouth.”

Much too much effort for arrogant Americans to think. Why should they? They are the greatest country in the world! Let someone else do the thinking. Americans are too busy with their games and gadgets and Reality Shows. What a Joke! I'm an American; Vietnam Veteran AND an expat.

The culture of the United States has been shaped, not by good education and morality, but by television and socialist education. Fortunately there are some who still know what it means to be an American and the value of the term "American exceptionalism". And we won't let that be erased by Clinton, Bush, Obama, Romney or any other servant of the Elitist Bankers.

J Carlton said it better than I could.

David, the greatest nation in the world would not be that nation with the largest debt in the universe. The result of electing others to do our thinking for us.

Really J? I am wondering what the plan is...it appears to be erased as we speak. You have heard of NDAA? Agenda 21?

Growing up Mr. Heinlein was and still is one of my favorite writers...He is old school none of this sodomite loving and liberal rectum kissing for him he was a TRUE Flag Waving AMERICAN Patriot! And we need MEN like him today and NOT that COMMIE Sodomite Rag Head Zebera occupying OUR White House today!

Pastor Ray. I like your appraisal (COMMIE Sodomite) as much as my title (Mr. Obamunist Goodwrench the assassin), describing the individual sitting as the head executive of the occupying statist theocracy infesting this land. Both too accurate to be funny. To have elected such an individual displays an actual decline in rational thinking. And, it is worsening exponentially. As J Carlton's list above would indicate, the slippery slope decline is severe. When ignorant entertainers thoughts are as valid as Amerika's hired help (politicians), the world is in trouble.

With the consolidation of the media into fewer and fewer hands, television, radio, newspapers, movies, and now their internet counterparts wield incredible power. Opinion-making is big business. And entertainers and sports figures are easily used to spread the message of the owners. The power of visualization is immense, and most of our opinions are broadcast to us. The propagandists realized a long time ago that the control of culture itself is the key to ruling the masses.

abby, yes I have. I've also heard of the Constitution. ;-)

I agree with R H people in entertainment didn't have a practical education like most who went to college, learned a bunch of stuff...then went in to the real world and found some of what they learned was wrong and only works in the theoretical mind of a college professor.
Woodrow Wilson I believe was a college professor who turned out to be a terrible president

"Even though he proves himself to be ignorant and subliterate every time he opens his mouth."  The list is long on that one — the subliterate LeBron comes to mind who is opening a 'free' school that will cost the tax-payers millions — for what? To be as edumacated as LeBron?  Remember 'eubonics'?

The two party system is ruled by big money and liberal media is the puppet voice. I believe the only way our Republic will fall is from within.  Lincoln said something like that. God bless America