It’s official. A guy named Craig Allen of West Linn, Ore., is the smartest guy in America.
Or to put that another way, he won the Great American Think-Off. That riveting competition was held this week in New York Mills, Minn.
It is described as “a national philosophy competition that gives ordinary people the chance to debate some of life’s perplexing questions.”
Allen raked in the gold medal for churning out the best answer to this year’s question, “Does immigration strengthen or threaten the United States?”
That question is questionable. I mean, immigration is important and all that, but couldn’t America’s greatest minds tackle something harder? Like:
1) Why is this national competition held in a farming town of 1,200 people 170 miles northwest of Minneapolis. (Was Ottumwa, Iowa, booked up?)
2) What does the title to the new James Bond movie mean?
3) Why has a Bush or a Clinton been involved in every presidential election since 1980?
4) Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?
5) Why is a great pitcher like Roy Oswalt only 5-7 this year?
6) Who will be surprised when Amy Winehouse ODs?
7) How much longer will I have to wait for the sequel to “Forrest Gump”?
8) Why does pepper improve the flavor of almost anything?
9) Why are most lotteries won by retirees?
10) What will be more valuable in five years, 100 shares of Google or 100 shares of ExxonMobil?
There you have it, America. Put on your thinking caps. Just don’t tie ’em too tight.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Deep thoughts
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1 comment:
Assuming you want an answer, here are a couple.
First, there have been 16 annual contests, and the question has been different each year. Some of them have been things like "Which is more valuable, Freedom or Security" or "Should Assisted Suicide be legal." Maybe you haven't noticed, but immigration does seem to be a pretty important question for a lot of people right now.
Secondly, instead of ridiculing a small town for trying to encourage the citizens to think about weighty topics, why not applaud the fact that they are actively engaging folks in discussions.
BTW, there were somewhere around 300 people there, which is probably better participation than the same event would get in most larger cities. That's 25% of the population.
And, for the record, my title is America's Greatest Thinker. No, I haven't let it go to my head, but instead of making fun of somebody, why don't you support the idea of citizens thinking about the issues that Congress is unable to confront?
Craig R Allen
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