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Justin Webb's America

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More on irrationality

  • Justin Webb
  • 8 Apr 08, 10:42 PM GMT

Manuel - there is a wonderful reference to the "Where is New Mexico" problem in this great book.

Dr Kotkin is right - I agree that Susan Jacoby should not have the last word on these issues of rationality etc: in particular I think she under-appreciates America's continuing contribution to learning and the advancement of human comfort and happiness - for instance in medicine.

Vincent, Jacoby is American! This is a US debate not a transatlantic one. And our teeth ARE bad.

Alexandria Marder asks where the figures come from: they are Jacoby's, but I see that Gallup might be responsible for the sun/earth question. I would be interested to see the same question asked of British people - or Chinese or Russian. The depressing thing about it is not the ignorance of the one in five: it's the lack of intellectual curiosity.

As for the Petraeus-Crocker appearance - this is one of the weirder reactions. I didn't understand this either. This is the straight version.

Letting it all out

  • Justin Webb
  • 8 Apr 08, 04:10 AM GMT

Part of the process of becoming presidential involves the creation of the sense that you have a strategic vision, that your eyes are set on distant horizons. That is why Hillary Clinton's latest gambit - the suggestion that President Bush should boycott the opening of the Olympics - might not work.

Some commentators you might expect to be friendly to the overall notion are unconvinced that this is part of any long-term properly thought-through policy.

Meanwhile Tony Blair is really letting it all out now and the Times of London is listening.

And it seems John McCain has let it all out in the past - this report is not for those who shudder at four-letter words.

Matthew Yglesias asks the question on everyone's mind after reading that piece: "What do you think the age cutoff is below which it becomes utterly implausible that someone would use the term 'trollop' in a non-ironic context?"

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