CNN: Hillary Clinton projected to win in Puerto Rico by a "wide margin"

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According to our forefathers, the average American is ignorant or uninformed, which is why we have the electoral college. Hmmm...

No, we have the EC so NY, CA and a few other big states don't decide the election every time. We have the EC so the smaller, less populated states have say in this country.

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To be honest "the average American" doesn't even know where Puerto Rico is.

Really, you think so? Ouch.

Unfortunately, yes... heck... ask many Americans where their own state is on a map and you may be shocked... sad, but true. Fortunately for most VJers, that is not the case for obvious reasons. In the particular case of Puerto Rico, this is a common cruise ship starting/stop off point for many- and that's about the extent of most Americans' knowledge of the island and its people and politics.

This is all a bunch of realpolitik and many seem to fall right in line into the vote-pandering game these politicians play. Clinton represents a Puerto-Rican heavy Senatorial district in New York.

Have you ever asked anyone this question? Or even where their state is on a map? I know there are some geographical "challenges" apparent, but reaching this far? Puerto Rico is often shown on a map when hurricanes are looming. I just have thisnagging feeling this is some sort of soundbite based on some funny candid question shows asking general questions and picking out the funniest/most pathetic non answers.

Maybe not. I dont know, but I never asked anyone to point out Puerto Rico on a map.

Hell, if Canada were a small country, the average American wouldn't know where it was either. According to our forefathers, the average American is ignorant or uninformed, which is why we have the electoral college. Hmmm...

Now Canada... I think that is too far for some to see on a map.

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To be honest "the average American" doesn't even know where Puerto Rico is.

Really, you think so? Ouch.

Unfortunately, yes... heck... ask many Americans where their own state is on a map and you may be shocked... sad, but true. Fortunately for most VJers, that is not the case for obvious reasons. In the particular case of Puerto Rico, this is a common cruise ship starting/stop off point for many- and that's about the extent of most Americans' knowledge of the island and its people and politics.

This is all a bunch of realpolitik and many seem to fall right in line into the vote-pandering game these politicians play. Clinton represents a Puerto-Rican heavy Senatorial district in New York.

Have you ever asked anyone this question? Or even where their state is on a map? I know there are some geographical "challenges" apparent, but reaching this far? Puerto Rico is often shown on a map when hurricanes are looming. I just have thisnagging feeling this is some sort of soundbite based on some funny candid question shows asking general questions and picking out the funniest/most pathetic non answers.

Maybe not. I dont know, but I never asked anyone to point out Puerto Rico on a map.

WOW that is also true... these responses come out all the time in those comedy shows... but I think there was a National Geographic survey done not too long ago that gave some pretty sad results. Just Googled it.

As for the particular question of Puerto Rico... imagine me telling people about the island and getting asked... OVER and over if you could drive there, if there were any McDonalds there (too many), among a myriad of other questions that would crack the hell out of anyone that knew an inkling about the island.

Nice survey .

On a related note - I told a coworker I was visiting the UK, and their reponse was "Oh, do they speak English there"? I know there is ignorance, I just can't wrap my head around it.

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Yes you'd definitely figure that we could do wonderful things with all the freedoms we have in this country... starting with knowing where the heck we are as humans on a map... It is funny, but its also pathetic. Yet we claim to be authoritative as a nation in being international leaders.