Back at the turn of this century we worried as a nation that we were dumbing down. Educational standards were falling, public discourse was deteriorating and people were drawn to the folksy everyday language of populist politicians. Complex, difficult ideas were to be eschewed as elitist and inappropriate to everyday concerns. That momentum's grown. No coincidence that universities have come under attack and are seen as elitist or teaching woke ideas. The present administration is a good example of that dumbing down, anti-rational, cavalier with the truth, extravagant and folksy in its use of everyday language, but confident and brash. Even our newspapers have withdrawn from the discussion of ideas. An intellectual white flag has gone up. Their surrender only adds fuel to the fires of ignorance. It's no coincidence that our democracy is under direct assault from reactionary forces. The army and police are becoming the defense against ideas and debate, the legal system manipulated to produce agreement. History teaches us, however, that ignorance and democracy don't mix.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never will be." T. Jefferson.