Statistically 16% of the population has an IQ of less than 85
I can believe that but I don't think everything is linked to stupidity. You do realize that today's 30- and 20-year-olds, let alone teenagers, were introduced to a digital world from the time they said "da-da" or took their first steps. Everything is at their fingertips and rote learning - sadly - went out the window a couple of decades or more ago. It's not so much youngsters' fault that they can't make change or do whatever without a digital device, it's just that that's the way they were brought up. I think the best way for our adversaries in the world to create pandemonium in the U.S. is to simply shut down the power grid. Everything that's not backed up by generators or other power sources would blank out and people would be in a frenzy. Nothing would get done and I doubt people would know how to react.
When educational gurus began creating curricula that was dependent on calculators and computers, they thought they were developing creative stuff that would benefit students and the country. They weren't right, maybe for some kids they were but certainly not for the majority. Kids' pencils are now keyboards, written words are typed words, even holding pencils properly is difficult for some kids because they are leaning how to type, and not use fine motor skills necessary for holding and manipulating pencils and pens. Reading books of any length has become difficult for many because their brains have adapted to quick videos, text messages, etc., that require little time or effort to digest. This exposure to digital-age "news" and video-game addiction takes a toll in other ways; attention and comprehension are two of them. I have seen so many youngsters working cash registers who fail to make change without looking at the register's screen. It is sad and I don't think it's going to get better until some basics in education are reinstitute and devices are taken away. Good luck with that. And this isn't a political issue if some thought I was insinuating that. Both Republicans and Democrats have supported changes in education practices over the past 30-40 years, though it's true the birthplace of many modern changes has been California and New York.