Sad, sad report on CNN today about the National Geographic-Roper Public Affairs 2006 Geographic Literacy Study. It asked a bunch of (basic) geography questions to 18 to 24-year-olds and analyzed the answers.

• 33% couldn't find Louisiana on a map
• 60% couldn't find Iraq on a map of the Middle East
• 47% couldn't find the Indian subcontinent on a map of Asia (WTF! It's kinda hard to miss!)

But then again, the bar set on geography in this country is pretty dismal. Take the CNN .com's geography quiz, found on the article page. The quiz asks the viewer to identify/locate:

• New York State
• Ireland
• Iran
• Louisiana
• Turkey
• Germany

At the end, if you've done good, you're told you apparently deserve the Nobel prize for being so smart...

Excellent work! You must read the atlas in your spare time.

Well, call me Doogie Howser.

Labels: politics