Thanks sooooo much for this commentary. I have recently (July, 2012) published a book entitled “Dumbin’ Down: Reflections on the Mis-Education of the Negro” ( http://tinyurl.com/dumbindown ) wherein I bring Dr. Woodson’s excellent analysis into the 21st Century. The notion of Dumbin’ Down, as I have conceptualized it, currently has more to do with our values as individuals and as a society. It seems that we have been taught to devalue many things that in reality, bring the most substantive benefits to our long term quality of life (i.e., interpersonal communcation skills, self-care and love, knowledge and wise action, health, self-concept and self-image).

I appreciate your perspective that all Americans have been miseducated; in fact, this is what Dr. Woodson also understood. The only way to maintain a system of oppression is to miseducated that majority of all people (regardless of race, class, religion, etc.), else you will find that those who are left to know the truth, will begin to teach it and act it out. It was and is the miseducation of the masses, with one particular group (non-white majority) as the main target, with poor and disenfranchised whites as a close second.

Thanks again for this stimulating commentary…I look forward to reading more.

Jeff Menzise, Ph.D.
Mind on the Matter
http://www.mindonthematter.com

In fact, when was the last time any of us heard of companies that make a living just by selling great, innovative products? Taking the wireless speaker example, it is instructive to do a quick Google search which reveals companies like Ausyssay, Libratone, Dynaudio, Moos Audio and others that seem to have won awards for product innovation, yet hardly get a mention in the press – none of them have endorsements in place. Contrast this with just about any company that jumps on the endorsement bandwagon and gets huge coverage, regardless of how good or bad their product is – the Pill is a perfect example of this.

So here is the real question: is it possible to be commercially successful on a large scale without endorsements? And if not, how can companies in the first place be steered away from endorsing people whose moral compass is clearly pointing in the wrong direction?