It's Not Your House. Show some respect!

     Okay, look, I'm not what one would call a pious, or traditionally religious person.  In fact, the only time I ever regularly attend church is when I'm playing a string of services on the organ, no matter the denomination; as long as I'm able to make music I've pretty much found my spiritual ground of being (to paraphrase Paul Tillich).  So this little diatribe is not about me: it's about the supposed faithful who, knowingly or unknowingly, show little or no respect for their God in church.  I'm referring to the behaviour of these pecksniffs just prior to the "official" service/mass; i. e., before and, especially, during the prelude.  

   It's pretty evident people don't care nowadays.  They simply don't:  either out of ignorance or protrusive self-indulgence.  The time before the service has become a social hour in which the din of conversation sometimes borders on the raucous (depending upon the number of attendees).  So, I wonder, why do I go to the trouble of learning a beautiful, quiet, meditative prelude that, in most cases, I can barely hear myself, much less set a contemplative mood or setting for worship?   It's come to the point where I have found myself in the same position as a more than a few organists in so far as I really don't like practising the organ anymore.  Let's be certain here. This is not a recital. It's not about drawing attention to the organist performing some stunning, difficult piece of music.  It's really not even the music per se.  It's what the music is suppose to do in establishing a peaceful, meditative, spiritual and —most importantly — respectful milieu in what I've always considered to a holy space.  But why bother when the end result is the congregation's apparent floccinaucinihilipilification of the music before service.

   There was a time when churches were deliberately built to have subdued lighting (even the Gothic cathedrals with their long and many windows [albeit brighter than the Romanesque buildings] utilised natural light and still were considerably less obtrusive than most contemporary churches).  Additionally — more so in Roman Catholic and other highly liturgical churches — you were taught or simply knew that you were entering a place of worship.  It was where you left the secular world behind and were entering a sacred space, and therefore behaved accordingly.  Simply put:  IT'S NOT YOUR HOUSE!  And if you don't get that; if you are not predisposed to comport yourself then don't come inside.  It's as if I came over to your house, and instead of engaging with you — in your house — I and a whole bunch of other people came by, and we all chose to chitchat amongst ourselves instead of you.  It's bloody rude.  And that is exactly how pre-service congregations, especially non liturgical (Protestant) behave today.  

    Entering a church sanctuary should induce a sense of awe, of humility.  One should be humbled, penitent.  After all you are entering the house of the Lord.  So, forget about the organ, forget about the gentle, soothing, contemplative music; and, more importantly forget about the other people.  You're in God's house.  Show some respect.

 

So What Happened with Me and the Organ?

I’ve been an organist most of my life. I loved the organ (and perhaps I still do, but that’s a matter with which to be discussed later). There was a time in which I could not imagine myself not being an organist. For decades I was at most peace with myself, most focused, yet free when I would be alone for hours in a dark church or auditorium practising or — especially — improvising at the console. Improvising at the organ was often the inspiration for my composing. Not that I would remember much, if any, of the ideas which passed through my hands and feet; rather, I would come away with insights and the confidence to put musical thoughts on paper (and yes, I still compose with a pencil and several handy erasers). It was nice. The only person’s expectations of whom I was concerned were my own.

But, that’s changed now. A number of factors have occurred since I last played the organ, particularly regarding at the church I had been practising up until a year ago when the Diocese instituted a shut down of its churches. Since then (November 2020, apparently there has been some opening up of the church; notwithstanding the my last communication with the rector (July 2021) who informed me that for insurance reasons I still couldn’t come and practise the organ, even though I’ve seen numerous groups and individuals (outside of the rector and the church administrator) come and go. 

Now, I’ve been here before, under different circumstances mind you; I've gone through “dry” periods of not having an instrument upon which to practise in the past; and it’s very frustrating. Just as I feel I’m regaining my technique, even progressing, some circumstance (too many to numerate here) comes along and I’m sans organ one more time; and the quest to find a decent instrument is renewed. But, this time it’s different. In this case I’ve decided that I’m fed up being at the mercy of duplicitous clergy. Concerning this last situation, since I haven’t received any communication from this clergyman, notwithstanding the obvious change from our last communication (e-mail), as if I’m blind and can’t see the comings and goings at the church, I’ve decided not bother. It’s pretty clear that my presence, no matter how careful, unobtrusive and deferential I’ve been, is simply no longer desired. At least that is my conclusion. I’ve pondered, a lot, as to whether I should ask one more time now. The issue is not that I’m afraid of what he’ll tell me. No, my concern is what I might say.

So, what does this have to do with my attitude to the organ? Well, I simply don’t like playing it much anymore. I’ve had the rug pulled out from beneath me too many times. And at my age I just don’t feel like starting over for ninth or tenth time. It’s a shame; because, I’m currently the interim at a church where the congregation (at least for now) truly appreciate my playing. The organ is much smaller than the one I used to play, and it’s decent for its size; but, at this point I’m totally uninspired and have no desire to learn anything new, much less work on another recital programme.

So, there it is. Unfortunately having had the instrument I have loved to play and has been so much of my inspiration for all the other aspects of my love of music taken away — again, has taken its toll on them and my whole thinking as to who I am. 

I guess I should just stick to gardening.

Rethinking the Readings

  I am mildly dyslexic, which means words and letters have a tendency to jumble up before me; and therefore, I have to spend more time than most to "get it right" when I read aloud.  I spent a substantial part of Wednesday and Thursday working to get John 18 & 19 right (notwithstanding the previous readings I made).  I did these readings hoping that people would get some meaning from them.  I tried to make them as natural sounding, even conversational, as possible so that the listener would get the full impact — the essence — of the message; that maybe they might even be useful to some congregations.  Yet, except for a handful of "friends response to these readings I've given have been largely ignored, just like virtually everything else I've posted.  Needless to say I am not a little disappointed; which is why I have chosen to suspend my Lectionary readings.  I'm NOT looking for a lot of comments or discussions (although that would be nice); rather, a simple "like" or "heart" or "angry" would have been nice, just to know that you've seen and heard my work.  Perhaps this may sound egocentric because I'm not pleased with the response.  Maybe that's so, maybe to an extent; nevertheless, my primary reason was to give something of meaning to people.  However, if no one is interested enough to listen why bother?  I have other things "on my plate" with which to focus my attention, primarily that of writing music that also interests nobody.  Ergo, my eschewing of future Lectionary readings. 

The GOP and its Fascist Tendencies Have Come to Light

 One thing for which we have to be thankful is that this election, more than anything else that we've surmised during these past four years, has revealed more clearly than ever that the GOP is and HAS BEEn riddled with fascists, racists, sexists and totalitarianists.  To be conservative, i.e., cautiousness regarding changing the status quo is one thing; but, what has happened since Trump's election and the continuing desperate attempts to keep him in power is a blatant attempt toward fascism.  The Republican party, since the 1960's, when they embraced the the racist former Democrats of the the south commonly known then as "Dixiecrats," has been, if not openly, a covertly classist (and therefore racist) organisation.  There are more than enough examples to go around:  Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Stephen Miller, Louis Gohmert,  James Jordan just to name a few.  These reprehensible people represent the Republican party and the self imposed ignorant of the party and their constituents.  Because of their refusal to accept the Biden/Harris election, continuing to prostrate themselves (as well as their lowly constituents) at the feet of he who is and has been the most morally, financially, politically, legally corrupt individual, not only to occupy the White House, but as a person in general, deserve nothing more than outright contempt.  And I repeat, that those who voted to maintain both Trump and his sycophants deserve the same. Shame on you. Shame on you all. 

Trump's Mishandling of COVID-19 and the Ensuing Decline of U.S. Democracy

        I haven't written much of anything lately, mainly because I've been so despondent over the precipitous decline of our society.  I guess my dismay has me so confounded that I find it hard to know where to begin.  What has dismayed me the most is the the unbridled stupidity of an inordinately large proportion of the the American public. Much of my melancholy stems from the continuing, ever bleak news that there are millions — MILLIONS — of so-called human beings who continue to avidly endorse and justify Donald Trump and his coterie of sycophants and racists; notwithstanding his gradual, steady drop in the polls.  This horde of grotesquely doltish imbeciles happens to consist (according to polls) of approximately 40% of what is supposed to be the American electorate. They not only endorse, but actually celebrate Trump & Co.’s wanton attempts to destroy not only whatever level of civility we may have accomplished in the past 240+ years, much less any leadership the U.S.  manifested over the past 10 decades internationally, but any semblance of social progress and justice we may have achieved. 

       

        I am depressed because I see these "people" every day.  The selfishness exhibited by their ostentatious flag waving, not only on their dwelling places, but on their "muscle" cars, pick-ups and motorcycles (all of which sans mufflers in order to draw attention to their pathetic existences), the gratuitous claiming of "individual rights" (viz. 2nd Amendment) at the expense of the community, not to mention at the very least, the inherent racism consistent with their far-right stupidity, have all been amplified and given carte blanch by this gratuitously reprehensible man — who, don't forget, was elected (as a result of our skewed Electoral College system) by a minority of American voters.

My essay on Why We Hate Smart People goes to the heart of this problem.  The evidence has been more than made clear.  There has always been this conglomerate of working class, rural, mostly poorly educated white males (accompanied by their equally credulous spouses), who have had this disdain — this vituperation — not only toward the educated, but to the intellectually, culturally astute and broadminded.  Perhaps the primary reason for this acrimony is that intelligent people don’t give simple answers to complex questions or issues.  The simpleminded want easy answers, and become angry, even violent, when they can’t get them.  This unfortunately substantial portion of the populace, because of their inordinately bereft education, i. e., the exiguity of learning how to think critically, makes them easy fodder for manipulation by demagogues who come in all shapes and sizes, but mainly as “populist” politicians, hucksters, and (of course) the worst charlatans —  evangelical/fundamentalist clergy who are masters at manipulating the gullible, the stupid, the naïve.  Ultra-conservative, far-right (read facsist) politicians, into which most of the GOP has devolved nowadays because of their ultimately cynical and inherent disdain for humanity, coupled with their understanding of the intrinsic gullibility of their followers, have become masters at manipulation.  And that’s big difference from their liberal/progressives counterparts.  More about this distinction in detail later. But for now:

        He inherited from Obama a strong and continued strengthening economy which he squandered; and, now has completely eradicated simply by ignoring the coronavirus before it became a pandemic.  And now, because of his total abdication of any leadership regarding this crisis, we have  economic chaos. He simply does not know how to lead.  A leader doesn’t not have to be an expert in everything. A leader confers with others who are highly knowledgeable, expert, concerning whatever matter or issue is at hand, people who have various approaches and ideas as to deal with a situation; i.e., gathers as much information, pro and con, devises a strategy, makes an informed decision, and then acts on it; and, most importantly, takes responsibility for that decision   Donald Trump does none of that.  When he does make a decision it’s almost always uninformed and ill-conceived.  

          Racism and flagrant condoning of its systematic perpetuation among not only local and state police groups, but at the federal level with his oppression vilification of immigrants, primarily of latin, but more recently asian, descent has been one of the outstanding trademarks of this administration.   Don’t think for moment that the denial of essential materials and people to communities of colour as one more tool in his and eugenist buddies like Stephen Miller, and their racist  Republican flunkies to suppress the vote by either making so logistically difficult to vote or hoping that enough of “them” will become disablingly sick so as to keep them from the polls or simply to die.

          What we do know is, that our socio-economic structure will never be the same.  And that’s a reality with which all us are going to have to come to terms, even if the orange man and his MAGA Republicans don’t.

My WCC Quandary

I need to get this off my chest.  It pertains to my ambivalent feelings toward Westminster Choir College, notwithstanding its ongoing battle with its current owner Rider University.  I have had conflicted feelings about my alma mater since the day I graduated and quite probably before.  To this day I'm not sure what my feelings are toward WCC.  Too be sure, I do have some wonderful memories; yet, even those are tinged with a certain wistfulness, perhaps even melancholy, when I realise the end result of my ubiety there.  It may explain my lack of sanguinity over WCC possible demise.  I'm only a few years away from leaving this earth (or more accurately becoming part of it) and my memories aren't exactly the most approbative.

It was in in eighth grade that I discovered the magnificence and overwhelming glory of the organ.  It was from that point on I wanted to be a musician, specifically an organist — like Virgil Fox.   I never studied piano; I went directly to the organ.  It was the organ I wanted to master and nothing else.  Of course one thing usually leads to another; and after some time I also became interested in composing music.  Even though the organ was always my first love, it was through that instrument that I became interested in all aspects of serious music.*  My high school music teacher was a fellow named Joseph Bachak; and, after examining two choral pieces I had written, particularly a setting to Psalm 100, was convinced that should study composition and offered I take music theory (which I did; there were two of us in the class).  He even recommended I apply to New England Conservatory or Boston University (his alma mater).  However, a teenager's life being the bundle of conflicts that it is, it was  my acquaintance with the music director of the neighbouring high school whose choir had come to visit my school. I discovered that David Porkola was not only an organist, but an exceptional one. That and my seeing how much more intense the music programme was at that school, and my welcome "to hang out" there and eventual involvement with kids in that music programme, permanently cemented my desire to study music formally.  He would occasionally refer to "Westminster" and his stories about his organ teacher Alexander MacCurdy fascinated me.  The fact that Glassboro High had this incredible sounding choir was his doing; something he attributed to his study at "Westminster."  He left to do his graduate work at Union Theological Seminary (which at the the time had the premier graduate level organ department in the country) and I never got to know to which Westminster he referred.  I applied to Westminster College in western Pennsylvania, and realised that it wasn't the right one (even though it had nice music department), then I learned bout Westminster Choir College and that it had best organ department in the world.  I realised that was the Westminster Dave was referencing. I applied (as well as to a dozen other schools) had my audition with George Markey on the chapel organ and was accepted (mostly on potential) as one of his students, something I later found out was considered to be very special.

So, that was my entry into what I thought was going to be the school of my dreams.  As it turned out... well, it's hard to say.  I adored Dr. Markey.  He was a wonderful teacher.  I just wish I could have been a better student.  All I wanted to do was study the organ, but, of course there were other things that needed to be learnt.  I loved theory; and although I didn't actually hate ear training it (as well as sight singing) just never fully developed, and has atrophied since.  It's been a principal source of my feelings of inadequacy.  The Vietnam War was major influence in my gradual decline in academic standing.  At the time deferments for teachers were still recognised, and the last thing I wanted was to be drafted into that heinous conflict.  Ergo, I switched from a church music degree to education (which pleased my father since "it gave me something to fall back on") which then doubled my academic load to the point to which I couldn't focus on anything.  As a result ended up becoming considerably less than I wanted to be.   Having what was (and still is) undiagnosed ADD didn't help with trying set priorities.  Moreover, as a result of my switch I had to become a tri-semester senior in order make up the credits for graduation.  Look, I never wanted to be an elementary or high school teacher.  Practise teaching was an egregious experience and my practicum at Audubon High was simply miserable.  I had a mean spirited, overly possessive teacher who would not let me near his choir; so, I ended up teaching theory, somewhat.  It didn't help that I also had to have both wisdom teeth removed then.  The bastard gave me a D.

After my fateful (if not fatal) change of majors, I made two more stupid changes:  taking German and switching to another organ teacher.  I'll never forgive Frau Silz for not letting me drop German.  I ended up with a D in that course as well, and a C in my major instrument; something from which I've never recovered.   I left Dr. Markey not because I wanted to, but because I felt I was no longer worthy to study under him.  Of course, breaking my right wrist in my Freshman year put a bit of a damper on my playing; not realising it was more than a sprain for three of four weeks encumbered the healing process considerably through to the end of the second semester.  The one good thing, it gave me the opportunity to learn the Middelschulte "Perpetual Motion" for pedals alone.  But, even before that, during the first semester, I had the good fortune of contracting viral Meningitis from which I nearly died.  Then again shortly before the end of the second semester of "first" senior year Whilst playing frisbee Tim Dobbins decided to tackle me as if we were playing NFL football from which I received a a broken clavicle.  I still have a slight slope in my left shoulder.

The numerous Symphonic Choir concerts from which I was routinely cut further disheartened me.  I never auditioned for the Chapel Touring Choir or Westminster Choir simply because I thought I just wasn't good enough.  Let me tell you, not being able to participate in those Symphonic Choir concerts was a monumental disappointment and only contributed to my perceived exiguousness.  After spending all that practise and rehearsal time learning these great masterpieces and then to be told (essentially) that I wasn't good enough to participate just seemed so unfair.  Now, I know other people would be cut occasionally from concerts; however, it just seemed that my exclusions seemed inordinately high.  The one cut that hurt the most was missing out on the "Missa Solemnis" with Bernstein conducting.  It still hurts.  I think a large part of it was (excepting one or two other students I knew) I loved the orchestra more than others did.  I wanted to learn it all, and it was probably one of the reasons the two courses of study in which I excelled were conducting and orchestration.  I loved conducting class and was a natural. It was the area I did my ill-fated (again) graduate study.  That's another sad story as result of my poor decision making.

As an organist I was non-comformist to the Baroque/purist movement that was so popular at the time (being a fan of Virgil Fox at that time was apostate); I felt not a little out of place.  This may have been influential as to my burgeoning interest in conducting and to the resuscitation of my interest in composition.  I spent more time improvising and composing, and less on pretty much anything else.  Fortunately, the a saving grace in my final two years at WCC was my studying and ultimate friendship with Malcolm Williamson.  My lessons with him were one revelation after another.  He was the most accomplished and encyclopaedic musician I have (and probably will) ever meet.  He and Dr. Markey were the two faculty members who demonstrated to me the most generosity of spirit.  Except for my Markey organ lessons and Williamson composition studies, I felt that I was pretty much a bystander.

There was a third saving grace without whom my existence at WCC might have been intolerable, and that was my roommate and best friend from my Sophomore year till graduation George Gray.  Nobody else had his easy going, funny, yet musically determined approach to life than he.  In short he made me laugh and enjoy just about anytime we spent together.  When he walked into a room it was as if the world became a truly enjoyable planet.  It's very difficult to pin down.  George could say things that no one else could.  He just had this amazing ability to simply make everybody feel better.  I can easily say it was an honour to have had him as my roommate those 3.5 years (we were both tri-semester seniors).  One of my biggest regrets (of the infinite number) is that in later years I let him down in an aborted attempt to be the organist at his church.

Which takes me to my post-WCC life, which because I knew I was less than what I should have been — essentially a fraud — I consequently made innumerable poor decisions (two failed marriages, a failed business venture, failed graduate degrees, etc) to compensate for my perceived inadequacies from which I have paid the price and as a result ended up to this present day being so, so, so much less than I should have been.  The sin of it all is I know I still have these abilities and knowledge that very, very few other musicians have.  I absolutely know if put in front an orchestra I could conduct them better than almost any or the so-called hot shots currently standing on podia.  I see choral conductors (some who currently teach at WCC!) who scandalise me with their dreadful technique.

I could ramble on; but why?  It's pretty evident what the future holds for me.  Unfortunately, so much of this goes back to my years at WCC.  Do I blame the school?  I don't know.  I can't help thinking that if I had gone another school (NEC?) and studied composition or conducting things would be different.  More importantly, I went on to college before I ready — something to this day of which I'm convinced is truly the case.  The things a young person will do to earn the respect of one's parents, particularly the father.  Nevertheless, all decisions made were mine (with the singularly consequential exception of the coercive Frau Priscilla Silz).  Ergo, I have no one else to blame.
I know full well that the decisions I made have resulted in my now seeing at where I am at 71 years of age with nothing to show of what I know or could have been.

We go through life with as they say, "there but for the grace of God;"  And, having been more than once an hair's breadth away from homelessness I certainly know what that means.  My decisions were mine, as infelicitous as they were; they are mine and I must contend with that fact.  And one of those fateful decisions was to attend Westminster Choir College.  I will die without even remotely accomplishing whatever goals, no matter how small, I may have set for myself.  So be it.  As the saying goes: "Life's a bitch, and then you die." Or as Ezra Pound said:  "It don't make no difference" (I'm sure nobody will get irony of that statement).

*Evidently it was more of a reawakening of what had been an early proclivity to classical music.  I vaguely remember "conducting" to my Aunt Dottie's Toscanini  recording of the Beethoven Symphonies; something she sensed in me but was either not recognised or was dismissed by my parents.  My father being an engineer and science oriented was obviously more interested in my primary obsession at the time — palaeontology.  Thus music lay dormant until my twelfth and thirteenth years and the discovery of Virgil Fox's "Encores" album.

Why Do We Hate Smart People?

I think we need to reflect on why America hates intellectuals; more so now than ever before.  The first time I was aware of this uniquely American phenomenon was way back in the late 60's and early 70's when Spiro Agnew referred to the media as "elitists controlled by effete snobs (i.e. intellectuals)," referring to them also as "nattering nabobs of negativism." The trend continued to expand from there through Reagan, Clinton, Bush II to the present through whom Donald J. Trump has manifested its worst incarnation.

But, of course, it goes back farther than that; it's just that in the late 20th century till now it has become the dominating force behind all politics.  Today we could never elect a JFK or Jimmy Carter or FDR or Theodore, Roosevelt, or Abraham Lincoln.  No, they just wouldn't be flashy or "charismatic" (i.e. celebrity) enough to command the majority of America's electorate.  You see, in our present society we don't want to learn:  not just about politics, but ANYTHING that requires deliberation — thoughtful, introspective, cognitive thought.  The vast majority of Americans are an intellectually slothful lot.  I constantly hear the pundits on shows on MSNBC, CNN, PBS talk about how Americans don't follow this stuff (issues of the day) and are too wrapped up in their everyday lives to concern themselves with the matters in Washington.  That's bunk.  If you can read, if you can watch television, if you can hear the radio, if you are in anyway exposed to social media (the worst source of information), i.e., if you can, in any fashion, be exposed to the news, you can take a few minutes out of your day and learn about the people in Washington — whose decisions affect your life — are doing with your tax dollars, then you have no excuse.  Being informed is a civic duty.  Educating one's self as to political matters is vital to choosing good people to represent you.

Yet, the American electorate are pathetically ignorant of what their congresspersons and senators are doing on any issue, whether it's taxes, voting rights, reproductive rights, racism, foreign affairs, immigration, global warming, you name it; most Americans are profoundly ignorant.  One of the late night talk show hosts — Kimmel or Fallon — for awhile, would have these "man/woman on the street"  segments asking questions such as:  "Are you in favour of Obamacare?" to which (at the time a few years ago) most said they were against it.  Then, when asked if in favour of the Affordable Care Act they would be almost unanimous their approval! 10% of COLLEGE GRADS think Judge Judy is a member of the Supreme Court! Of course there were even worse examples such as not knowing who their senator (much less congressperson) was, or who was FDR.  I no longer watch late night TV since I have to get up at 5:10 a.m. during the week; but, it's just as well; because, I simply can't stand the embarrassment of how what is supposed to be the world's greatest democracy can be purportedly governed by such a mass of stupidity.  All I used to say to myself when I witnessed these farces was: "and these people vote?"  Fortunately, not many of them probably do, since... well, they can't be bothered or some other lame excuse.

Hence, Donald J. Trump.  HEY, BUT WAIT!  Didn't we elect Barack Obama?  Yeah, so? My point exactly.  Let's face it, as good as a lot of Democrats think he was — now — he was, for the most part (granted with the one substantial passage of the ACA) a pretty ineffectual president when it came to legislation and foreign affairs (remember the Red Line?).  Nevertheless, that doesn't really matter simply because he was a good president elected for all the wrong reasons:  Celebrity.  Celebrity is the primary means of getting elected.  Americans only vote for those they know through the celebrity sausage machine.  Barack Obama was elected because he was young, black and insouciant.  It was those qualities, plus the critical prerequisite endorsement of EFK and the rest of the clan, which first got him nominated and then elected.  His election had little to do with any policies which he never fully articulated during the campaign; it was all personality.  No different than Trump. And that's the problem. Democrats are looking for some one more dynamic, and at the same time familiar, to go up against Trump, who has managed to exploit the gullibility of the simpleminded of our society, who are currently at least 30-40% of the electorate, and hold an inordinate influence on our elections by means of the antiquated, corrupt, and now vulnerable electoral college system.

All this is a result of our dismal public education system which is funded, and therefore highly politicised, through the individual state/commonwealth governments, primarily by means of property taxes.  State and local governments are notoriously corrupt.  What I mean by corrupt is that the influence of money is is greater than it is in the federal government by the simple fact that the influencers don't need to spend as much as they need to at the federal level (This DOES NOT preclude the big money influence in D. C.  It's just easier at the state and local level!).  As a result, we have this system in which those who have money, and therefore, own (and can mostly afford) more highly taxed property get the better schools; whereas, those who own low end property, or can't afford to own property (rent) pay little or no taxes and therefore get the crumby schools.  Since most people don't have a lot of money or own high end property, it's most children who end up with the lower quality education.  The end result is an electorate who not only don't know anything outside their own sphere of experience, but simply don't care or realise their fiduciary responsibilities as citizens of a democratic society.  

A democratic society is dependent on an educated, critical thinking electorate:  something which America severely lacks, and has lacked for most of its existence.  The difference is with the current availability of knowledge accessibility, there simply is no excuse for the United States to regress from whence it has evolved because we, as a nation, refuse to treat learning and intellectual pursuit as a societal priority.

As the French philosopher Joseph de Maistre said:  "Every country gets the government it deserves."