Nah, I totally agree with that article. But part of the problem is that the image of the American idiot is exported to other countries. TV and Hollywood here thrive on reality television centered around inept, emotionally immature idiots, among other bad stereotypes (such as the entire gangsta black people thing). Americans don't realize that this image and popular culture is yes, exported to other countries, making the entire country look like a ship of fools.
I would like for the teaching profession to follow the...I forget if its Norway or Finland, but one of those countries has the best example. There, teaching is considered on par with being a lawyer or doctor, and takes the same amount of education to achieve (a Master's degree, proficiency tests, etc.) and it's subsequently looked upon with great respect and dignity. Here, however, being a teacher means working for peanuts.
