President Nixon told the NY Times Nov 10, 1972 "The average American is just like the child in the family".

Averell Harriman said the American people wanted nothing better than to "go to the movies and drink Coke".

In 1996 Ted Turner said before an international forum; "The U.S. has got some of the dumbest people in the world. I want you to know that. We know that."

Walter Lippman said the 'omnicompetent citizen' was no longer possible in the age of specialization. He believed public opinion was no better than gossip and that real governing should be left in the hands of experts.

****

Would you *dumb idiot* citizens like to hear more about what the people with money and power think of you?

I'm sure you don't. Reality bites and it's a b*tch.

-- OR (orwelliator@biosys.net), November 18, 1999

Answers

I might be dumb, but at least I'm ugly.

-- Gus (y2kk@usa.net), November 18, 1999.

Yeah well, Ted would know. Voice of his own experience. a/k/a the proud founder of C.N.N. (Comatose Network Nausea)

-- Gia (laureltree7@hotmail.com), November 18, 1999.

They are all correct. That's what *really* bites.

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), November 19, 1999.

It's not the assessment that bites ....it's the moral bankruptcy, spiritual vacuity, and conscientous corruption of these commies and innerlektuals who with one and the same breath proclaim their citizens children and annoint themselves as their patrons -- and then embark on universal endeavors to "benefit" the masses through the total exploitation of their "children". Who is that genius anyway who enables hundreds of millions to download cinematic smut from the G7 satellite ???? Oh... yes .... an American citizen.

These "public figures" are impotent. There will be a wailing and a gnashing of teeth .... get used to it.

Squirrl Huntr >"<

-- SH (squirrl@huntr.com), November 19, 1999.

What the hell does Ted Turner know,He married Jane Fonda.And he calls us dumb

-- G Bailey (GBa6872290@aol.com), November 19, 1999.

Flattery will get you nowhere.

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), November 19, 1999.

perception may be reality but in Ted Turner's case--maybe the reason he thinks we are so stupid is because he thinks he is so amazing? Or maybe it's because he is so evil and once you get evil, you begin to think everyone is stupid but you.

-- tt (cuddluppy@yahoo.com), November 19, 1999.

More like..."Professing themselves to be wise they have become fools."

Arrogant? 1: exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance in an overbearing manner

-- Mark Hillyard (foster@inreach.com), November 19, 1999.

Those of power are powerless without those who gave them power!

Remember the little people made the big people BIG! They also can make them very small......

and yes I believe it....

I have indeed dealt with some smooth Power Players...

One thing to know.. They ALL have a weakness...

The key word...WEAKNESS

and you can bring them down..

I know that for a fact....it just takes time...

Been there..done it..will do it again if I have to..

-- cassandra (american_storm@usa.net), November 19, 1999.

DAAAAHHH...I wuz in th' in'fntry....dahhh...(drooling on the floor)

-- Billy-Boy (Just a Stupid Rakkasan@yahoo.com), November 19, 1999.

OR: Judging from the behavior of the masses in this (y2k) instance, I'd say they're about 98% correct. Storm warnings are up, and anyone with half a brain can see there might be serious trouble, but the overwhelming collective response from the herd is 'HUNH? Naah.' They don't even seem to comprehend the implications of a 'Three Day Storm' scenario. The ice storm that hit Montreal wasn't even a three day storm, but the repercussions were felt for months throughout the affected area. The potentially affected area for our little y2k three day storm is the whole world. 'HUNH? Naah, can't be.'

Sad to say, OR, but the vast majority (at least in this country) is doped up to the eyeballs on TV and twinkies. They've fallen, and they can't get up. And most of them don't even know it.

G

-- Pinkrock (aphotonboy@ao.com), November 19, 1999.

To update Marx:

"Entertainment is the opiate of the masses."

-- (dot@dot.dot), November 19, 1999.

"Or maybe it's because he is so evil and once you get evil, you begin to think everyone is stupid but you."

tt,

Thank you for that statement, it really woke me up. Thanks for the "attitude adjustment". :-)

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), November 19, 1999.

Hey, Ted Turner and Jane Fonda, two of my favorite Amerikans. What can I say? Anyone with that much money has got to be smart. No?

Billy Boy, I wear a bib so I don't drool on the floor. Works wonders. Mom says when I get so I don't need the bib, I can watch Ted's network.

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), November 19, 1999.