America was once great because its people were informed and valued education as a way to get ahead. In early America, newspapers flourished because people wanted to be informed and communities pushed to get public schools so their kids would be educated. Voters voted for candidates that they felt would be best for the country and themselves. In recent years, educators have moved education from a debate format where you explore both sides and come to a conclusion based on the facts to indoctrination where you are taught what is politically correct and expected to accept it. Short answer and essay tests which test your understanding and allow you to come to differing conclusions, are giving way to multiple choice tests which are easily graded by machine and only allow one right answer (the answer wanted by the person who drew up the test). The first allows you to disagree with the teacher as long as you support your conclusions, the second does not. While many people graduate from high school, many are unable to read or write well and the number who drop out of school is increasing. Because many aren’t taught to research both sides and draw a conclusion, they are easily swayed by emotional arguments which may not be based on facts. In addition, our election campaigns have moved from debating the issues to an exchange of verbal character assassinations to divert voter attention away from the issues and few people today research the issues. As a result, many people vote based on a candidate’s personality rather than on whether they will be a good President. Our country won’t get back on track until voters begin to take their vote seriously and study the issues before voting.