Congress speaks full-grade lower than 7 yrs ago

[charminglife]

Kind of a random study, but interesting. Is it a good thing that our politicians are speaking at levels that most people can comprehend, or are we all sinking to the lowest common denominator of speech?

Analysis: Congress at loss for words

By MJ LEE | 5/21/12 12:20 PM EDT

Lawmakers in Congress speak at almost a full grade level lower than they did seven years ago, with Republicans on average using more simple speech patterns than Democrats, according to a new analysis Monday.

Members of Congress currently speak at a 10.6 grade level, a Sunlight Foundation analysis found – down almost a full grade level of 11.5 in 2005. Based on analysis of floor speeches made by congressional members through April 25 of this year, Republicans speak at a 10.4 grade level, while Democrats speak at a 10.8 level.

The study also revealed that only 10 members of Congress have used at least 20 of Kaplan’s 100 most common SAT words so far in the current session of Congress, while just 92 members have used at least 10 of those words.

According to the Sunlight Foundation’s analysis of some of the country’s most prominent documents, the U.S. Constitution is written at a 17.8 grade level, the Federal Papers at a 17.1 level, and the Declaration of Independence at a 15.1 level (an analysis by the University of Minnesota showed that President Barack Obama’s State of the Union this year had an 8th grade comprehension level – the third lowest score of any SOTU address since 1934).

The study also found that the grade level of speech is lower for members who are more conservative: for Republicans, the drop is almost three whole grade levels from members of moderate voting records to those with conservative ones.

www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76569.html.

[cookiemdough]

Based on analysis of floor speeches made by congressional members through April 25 of this year, Republicans speak at a 10.4 grade level, while Democrats speak at a 10.8 level.


Is this a good thing? Your average american is not watching floor speeches on cspan, so I don't get the need to make things easier to understand for peers that should be similarly knowledgeable.

[pixy0stix]

Well, we want to elect people just like us so this isn't surprising.

[overture]

"Fuck you, I'm eating."

[arborgold]

May 21, 2012 13:40:31 GMT -5 overture said:

"Fuck you, I'm eating."

:Y:

"Welcome to Carl's Jr. Would you like to try our EXTRA BIG ASS TACO? Now with more MOLECULES!"