Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeell I'm not sure I should answer that.

One of the Miss Teen USA contestants gave the following answer: "I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don't have maps and I believe that our education like such as in South Africa and Iraq and everywhere like such as and I believe that they should our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S. or should help South Africa and should help Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future for us," Upton said.

Because geography is no longer taught in schools, nor valued. Some people I meet are so ethnocentric that they feel the US is the only country in existence! I feel sorry for them.

Don't beat yourself up about it. Most people from southern England know sweet FA about the north of their own country.

Poorly educated in Geography.

They need to spend more time playing this game...;-D... . . http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/states_experiment_drag-drop_Intermed_State15s_500.html

found this video example... (updated)

For the same reason even more than one fifth can't find their way around their own city or give directions to anyone else...

Because they get confused because they can't believe that there's a world out side of America.

Really? Is that true well then they have no hope of finding Australia.

Because thats the 1/5 that usually chooses to drop out of school & stay high or they think they have better things to do with their lives other then get an education or a degree. Most embarrassing that a few dimwits would make our country look so bad but I guess they have them everywhere! You can't force someone to better themselves, they have to do it all on their own & they only have themselves to blame when they drop out & choose not to try & get help or more of an education.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=16882792 you mean like this,lol Just found this thought it would be interesting for people to see.

Because they are stupid! (comment from an american) The truth hurts doesn't it?

Because 15% of us are bad at math.

Being so insular they do not realise there are other countries in the world that would make it difficult. I wonder what the percentage is that cannot find their own state or city.

is that really true. I mean REALLY? COME ONE NOW! i can see 1/5 not being able to locate a particular state...somewhere in the middle but the whole freaking country. I want to meet this 1/5...is it 1/5 like as in people who are in 2nd grade or 1/5 of high school graduates? this makes all the difference ya know.

Because health insurance is so hard to get and affordably keep over here, we can't afford the glasses required to make out country names and locations on a map.

Where did you get this statistic?

PLEASE READ!!! . The reason for the low overall knowledge scores for US children is the public school system.(yes, many of those 20% that can't find the US on a map are simply dropouts..but there is more to this story) . The public school system is not teaching enough and they are lowering the standards each year... . NOW if you were to ask kids in private schools the same questions, basically all of them would get it right...this is because it is a private school that has higher standards and better teaching practices... . RIGHT NOW during this upcoming presidential election, one of the major hidden issues is a ""School Voucher" system that could be proposed...this "School voucher system" would permit parents who enroll their child in a private school to receive a voucher equal to the public funds their child's home school district earmarked for their child that year. This voucher can then be applied toward the private school's annual tuition, which may still exceed the value of the voucher. It should also be noted that private schools have their own admission standards and are not required to accept all children....please note, that this wouldn't shut down public schools, it just would give the tax money the parents paid for the school into the private school they are using...This would increase usage of private schools and increase the learning quality of our children... . PLEASE check to see if the candidate you currently support is planning on trying to pass such a bill..if they do, it would do a great service to this countries youth!

I could find the US on a map way before I ever started school. The public schools are horrendous in this country, I agree, but the parenting skills are a much bigger issue. A child should already know their ABC's, the basics of how numbers work, counting money and some idea of geography before they ever enter school. This is the fault of American parents, not the schools.

Cause those darn maps are just too hard to find.

Who cares as long as the Marines know where all the countries are?

Please state the source of this statistic.

"I'm not the subject matter here butt-lips... " Maybe you're trying to be obtuse. You clearly "were" the point of my comment. "Edumacate" ur self 'n get back to meh.

I believe that most Americans dont have a map. We as U.S. Americans should help other countries such as Asia, S. America and the Iraq. Such as therefore. lol

Don't ask me. I know I can find it, and I've never met any American who can't. You'd think that I would have run into one of these 20% people by now.

Actually I thought it was 1/3rd due to Carlos Mencia due to his song. It would be my pleasure to play it again.

The US can't fight battles on its own? Is that why we let Monty talk us into Operation Market Garden? What a royal cock up. BTW, Patton's wife would kick Monty's lame tuckus any day.

From lack of education.

Because public relations has congealed their sense of intellectual individuality into a fine, fishy paste.

because the maps aren't printed in spanish

Perhaps in America when they do geography in school they only learn mostly about their states?

bet you they can point to their home state

This is a tribute to government and union control of a already failing education system.

It is because they have dedicated a large portion of their youth playing video games and watching anime.

It's not really that large a percentage. If you can believe a 2006 National Geographic poll of American teens, it's about 6%: "Nearly all (94 percent) young Americans can find the United States on the world map, and Canada (92 percent) and Mexico (88 percent) are nearly as familiar." Still, I find that appalling. How do you not know your own country?

Maybe the map they are showing them does not show the US

I personally believe that US Americans are unable to do so because... some a... people out there in our nation that don't have maps, and I believe that our education like such as in South Africa and the Iraq, everywhere like, such as. and I believe that they should... our education over here, in the US, should help the us.. er, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future for our....

here it is

wrong map?

I didn't know that about Americans,wow.

As Miss Teen said, the US should help the US :-)

Because we're just fucked