While guest columnist Bob Couch has a point regarding the danger of ignorance, he looks in the wrong direction [“Let’s leave ‘Age of Ignorance’ behind,” Jan. 29].

According to a variety of surveys over the past decade or so, 25% of Americans think the sun goes around the earth. Half reject the Big Bang, evolution and global climate change. Only one-third can pass the U.S. citizenship test, and one-third of Americans cannot name even one right protected by the First Amendment. Less than half can name the three branches of government.

A NASA study discovered that less than a third had “civic science literacy,” which is “the ability of a citizen to find, make sense of, and use information about science or technology to engage in a public discussion of policy choices involving science or technology.” Meanwhile, the findings of the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies show that at least 60% of Americans are unable to solve relatively simple problems in literacy, numeracy and critical thinking. On slightly more advanced problems, the failure rate was as high as 90%.

If we to give ourselves a grade for how smart we are as a nation, it would be no higher than a “D.” Such an astonishing level of ignorance makes people vulnerable to lies and manipulation — which is exactly how we’ve gotten to where we are.

It’s no accident that conservatives attack truth, facts and education. They’re the ultimate defense of freedom.

Thomas White

Amherst