Do you spend more time than you ought to wondering how the hell the federal government got to be in such a sorry state? I know I do. It is often noted that at the end of the final day of deliberations of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, someone asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got””a Republic or a Monarchy?”

Benjamin Franklin responded, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”

One of the requisites of “keeping it” is an informed electorate. I fear that one of the reasons we may in the process of “losing it,” is the sorry state of our primary educational system (the colleges aren’t much better ““ maybe even worse).

Take a look at an Eighth Grade Civics Test that was given in 1954. How well do you think the average voter would do on the test today? How would you do?

I see that Kenny Hignite, the boy who took the test in 1954 scored 98.5%. I figure that Kenny Hignite must be about 69 years old today. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were to see him at a Tea Party holding a sign.

Thanks to reader, Dick, for the link.