I believe that Americans are, for the most part, not as bad as Ann Barnhardt portrays us.  We have many flaws and many sins, but she is wrong when she says it it not our leaders, but us, who are to blame for our fall from grace.  No, Steve, I think our leaders deliberately dumbed us down and backed us into a corner, even while we had been trained to think our leaders were democratically elected.  

It is NOT my fault that the nation went the way it did.  I did vote, did even campaign for candidates since the age of 15, along with my parents.  I did teach in community college and did educate my students to think.  I did use my freedom of speech to teach my students to use THEIR freedom of speech.  
 
There are lots of people like me whom I know.  People who care passionately about this despicable election, for instance, who argue endlessly about which is the "lesser evil" of our Presidential candidates.
People who gave money to to try to put better candidates in place.  

I have never watched the Kardashians or Honey Boo Boo.  Yes, unfortunately, this trash IS popular.  Yes there are stupid people who watch it.  But are they most of America?  Is most of America that bad?
I wonder, sincerely.  I doubt it.

Mariel Rowina