Unfortunately, education is an active not a passive process. It's not something that Americans can have done to or for themselves.

The underlying problem here, as with most problems, is laziness.

Ignorance is the result of being too lazy to pay attention or to study in school and to continue one's education after graduation. Stupidity is willful ignorance, i.e. ignorance with attitude.

Our public schools as well as libraries and the Internet make information available all day, every day to everyone. Most Americans are simply too lazy to acquire it, consider it, test it, etc.