Beginning of the End – Part 2
TimeWatch Editorial
April 02, 2016
In our very last Editorial, dated April 1, 2016 we quoted Michael James Snyder’s blog “The Economic Collapse” where he details the coming global financial calamity. We made the point that Mr. Snyder states emphatically that he does not believe that the world is coming to an end, but he does warn of the imminent collapse. We therefore deduced that such a conclusion must be based upon irrefutable facts and therefore should be taken seriously.
But this financial assessment is not the only one that Mr. Snyder has made recently. On the “Infowars” website, Mr. Snyder recently wrote an article entitled: Depressing Survey Results Show How Extremely Stupid America Has Become.” The title immediately reveals the direction this commentary will take. Here is how he begins his description of the situation.
“I truly believe that if people of average intellect from the 1950s and 1960s were transported to 2016, they would likely be considered mental giants compared to the rest of us. We have a country where criminals are being paid $1000 a month not to shoot people, and the highest paid public employee in more than half the states is a football coach. Hardly anyone takes time to read a book anymore, and yet the average American spends 302 minutes a day watching television. 75 percent of our young adults cannot find Israel on a map of the Middle East, but they sure know how to find smut on the Internet. It may be hard to believe, but there are more than 4 million adult websites on the Internet today, and they get more traffic than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter combined.” Michael James Snyder, Depressing Survey Results Show How Extremely Stupid America Has Become. “Infowars”
At first glance Mr. Snyder may seem somewhat angry, but as you shall see his frank assessment is based upon research. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni publishes occasional reports on what college students know. This is his source.
“According to a brand new report that was recently released, almost 10 percent of our college graduates believe that Judge Judy is on the Supreme Court. Less than 20 percent of the college graduates knew the effect of the Emancipation Proclamation. More than a quarter of the college graduates did not know Franklin D. Roosevelt was president during World War II; one-third did not know he was the president who spearheaded the New Deal. NEWSWEEK recently asked 1,000 U.S. citizens to take America’s official citizenship test, 29 percent couldn’t name the vice president. Seventy-three percent couldn’t correctly say why we fought the Cold War. Forty-four percent were unable to define the Bill of Rights. And 6 percent couldn’t even circle Independence Day on a calendar.” Michael James Snyder, Depressing Survey Results Show How Extremely Stupid America Has Become. “Infowars”
When you combine the soon coming economic stresses with the lack of a basic understanding of the world and how it functions, we can clearly see the susceptibility to manipulation and deception. Of the two evaluations made by Mr. Snyder, I do believe that the findings regarding the collapse of intelligence is by far the more troubling. We are on the brink of a moment when independent thought and decision making will be absolutely crucial. Critical choices will have to be made; life itself will be at risk. A careful understanding of truth and error must be had if we are to survive the coming issues. Great Controversy Page 608 describes the situation best.
“As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren.” Great Controversy Page 608
The question then is; are we prepared to make the hard choices? Are we informed enough to make the right decisions?
Cameron A. Bowen
