How is the democratic act influenced by the level of education? Can the democratic elections and decisions be lucrative and assure a sustainable development (socio-economic) if the quality of general education is low? The role of adult education is to be discussed, parenting process, the influence of media, and marketing of different products and services as to serve the financial interests as well.
Seems to me that as education increases so does democratic ideals. Grammar school, at least here in the U.S. seems to center around conformity and "following the rules" in order to manufacture a docile and obedient class of blue collar workers. You sit down in your assigned chair, raise your hand to speak, walk single file without talking etc. Compare this grammar school education of the working class with the more liberal schools offered to the upper classes where the program is less structured in order to tailor to each individual students needs and creative ability. Even parenting styles display this model: Upper class families tend to negotiate with their kids, teaching them communication skills that will later be useful in life. In poorer families like the one I grew up in you were taught not to "talk back" or question authority. Now when folks move on to college there's ample evidence that even a couple years of a liberal arts education drastically changes a person's outlook on democracy. As the level of education increases they typically become more liberal (I'm using the American definition of this word). Levels of overt racism and sexism diminish somewhat too. Now, there is a segment of most governments that actually benefits from keeping people stupid. That's why for generations Americans had laws against teaching slaves how to read. We use the same premise today by charging exhorbitant fees for education so that by the time one (from the lower classes) graduates he will be too straddled with debt to be much of a trouble maker. He will go to his job and perform his duties without questioning authority or making demands. This can progress to the point to where an education is no longer profitable and folks decide (or are forced) not to attend college. Now these folks are at the mercy of media. Whatever their t.v.'s say they will believe since many lack critical thinking skills. This is not to say that all will be at the mercy of media, but in aggregate more folks will be less informed and then make less informed decisions as voters and proceed to vote against their own self interest...and the cycle repeats.
> How is the democratic act influenced by the level of education?
This obviously depends on who is controlling the education. Public education, which is supported by the state, would tend to support large government bureaucracy rather than analyzing its drawbacks. Are we talking about the act of casting a vote vs. not doing so, or that way in which the vote is cast?
> Can the democratic elections and decisions be lucrative and assure a sustainable development (socio-economic) if the quality of general education is low?
This depends on what is meant by sustainable socio-economic development. Are you talking about a redistribution of wealth or a healthily functioning economy? The freer markets are, the more people are brought up out of poverty. Free markets should not be confused with crony corporatism.
The discussion begs the question of the value of democracy. In a properly functioning republic, it doesn't matter who's in charge if the government is doing its job of protecting people's rights. Lord Acton said, "“The common vice of democracy is disregard for morality.” And Frederic Bastiat said that the state is the fantasy by which everyone tries to live at everyone else's expense. As such, people vote themselves favors until the system is so indebted that it collapses. We are in the throws of this currently in the U.S. If people were aware of this issue, which is a matter of education, they could work to control it.
I disagree with Weese's theory about the price of education. It's not high in order to price people out. It is high because government is involved in providing low-interest loans that private institutions would never agree to. This creates artificial demand and drives up the cost of education. There's a higher ed bubble about to burst like the housing bubble - and caused by the same factor - government intervention in loans.
I do agree with Weese's assessment of the differing approaches to education, wealthier people being brought up to question authority, many people getting education from media, the lack of critical thinking skills in the general population, and part of government benefiting from people being stupid. I think he would agree (and I will suggest) that there is a tipping point in which society as a whole is insufficiently educated (whether about democracy, critical thinking or other issues) and begins a downward spiral. In this case, keeping people stupid is self-defeating for those in power. I'll let others declare whether they thing we've reached or passed that point in the U.S.
Christophe Jouis I can't see the relationship between a fake phone call (better a French TV speciality than a russian one) and a serious discussion about Democracy and Education... Can you develop?
a prank phone call means nothing and please develop: what is the relationship with Democracy and Education? Can you answer from the heights of Sorbonne University Presidency?
Certainly the level of education has a great deal of impact on understanding what is going on politically and scientifically around the world. Lack of education by the masses has been taken advantages by demagogues in the past like Hitler. Thus education can act as a defense against false propaganda and untruths uttered by politicians on a daily if not hourly basis.
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