Study shows that Congress Speaks at a 10th Grade Level (Down from 11th)

http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2012/05/21/grade-level-congress/

Some Key Points:

In looking at the data more closely, a few other important patterns jump out:

1. Controlling for other factors, it is generally the most moderate members of both parties who speak at the highest grade levels, and the most extreme members who speak at the lowest grade levels. This pattern is most pronounced among freshmen and sophomore members.
2. Prior to 2005, Republicans on average spoke at a slightly higher grade level than Democrats. Since then, Democrats have spoken on average at a slightly higher grade level than Republicans.
3. Some of the decline in grade level since 2005 is because junior members speak at a lower grade level than senior members, and some of it is because senior members have simplified their speech patterns over time.
4. On average, the more words individual members speak on the floors of Congress, the simpler their speech tends to be.

So what? You want them to speak at a level where you need a dictionary to know WTF they're saying?

Me no like big words.

And next year they try out Kindergarten level.

If there truly is a dumbing down of the American people, and you do see that said in various places, it's reflected in our Congress.

So what? You want them to speak at a level where you need a dictionary to know WTF they're saying?

Pirate700

{quote goes here]jimkabrhel

[QUOTE="jimkabrhel"]

1. Controlling for other factors, it is generally the most moderate members of both parties who speak at the highest grade levels, and the most extreme members who speak at the lowest grade levels. This pattern is most pronounced among freshmen and sophomore memberslx_theo

I'm not surprised by it. I wonder how this relates to amount of overall education, and where (if any) Congressmen and women went to college.

Well Congress seems to be getting dumber and dumber so this isn't a surprise. The graphs on that page are pretty crazy though.

Shoot, is it just me or did I break the page with my last post in here?

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

So what? You want them to speak at a level where you need a dictionary to know WTF they're saying?

SolidSnake35

Is the thread layout completely fvcked up for anyone else right now?

Is the thread layout completely fvcked up for anyone else right now?

Pirate700

Yeah, seems like Gamespot threw up.

somebody broke the quote chain...damn glitchspot.....

that being said..this is 10 more grade levels higher than I would have given congress credit for...

lx_theo should fix his post

lx_theo should fix his post

kuraimen

Well, i wasn't sure what exactly was in it that was causing it. I tried. Now those who quoted me have to fix there's.

So I Am Error (very appropriate name) should fix it

So what? You want them to speak at a level where you need a dictionary to know WTF they're saying?

Pirate700

I saw this study a couple of days ago. I must say that I don't really care.