Idiot Nation

Michael Moore's piece titled "Idiot Nation" fails to qualify as anything close to academic writing. Not one of Moore's facts or statistics is backed by any evidence other than Moore's personal opinions or his recollections of past events or readings. Moore does make a couple of good points, but they are lost because of his broad use of generalizations and lack of any first hand evidence or reliable statistics.
I agree with Moore that our school systems are under funded, that our students aren't learning and retaining enough information, and that teachers are underpaid for their contributions to our country. There is also another problem with our education in America which Moore makes very clear in his writing even though he does not recognize or acknowledge it himself. This problem is that some students in the education system are not trying to learn anything! Moore is a perfect example of the lack of personal responsibility among some American students. Moore explains his feelings and experiences with regard to his education at some length in "Idiot Nation". Throughout his entire educational experience Moore gives examples of how he doesn't care, doesn't try, and openly despises the teachers who were trying to teach him. Moore also criticizes President Bush for making a joke about his C grades when speaking to a graduating class at Yale, then goes on to tell us that he dropped out of college all together because he couldn't find a parking space! Who is the idiot? The one who makes it through with C grades or the one who quits because he isn't early enough to find a parking space? Moore, like other American students, experience poor results within our educational system primarily because they don't try, they fight the system instead of learning to learn within it. Sure there are things that could be changed for the better, but our educational system works for those who try. The move in our country away from personal responsibility to responsibility of the state troubles me.

I could write at length about educational funding, but I'll keep it short. The United States Government doesn't fund or pay for anything! Taxpayers give the government its money and the government spends the taxpayers money. The money is not limitless. We have to balance our national security, education, social programs and other concerns within our budget. We need more money for education, but Moore makes it sound like the politicians are simply unwilling to write the check. The problem is not unwillingness. Education is one of the most popular issues as politicians run for election and re-election. By and large most politicians would love to give more funding to education. The problem is that they would have to pull it from other programs or raise taxes and the American voter is not always willing to make sacrifices in other areas.

I don't believe Moore's writing here can be taken seriously. He is talking about a very complex subject without citing any solid facts, sources, or statistics.