Reality Schmeailty

I sincerely believe that the over flux of reality TV shows is dumbing down societies intelligence. I am not looking down on those who watch reality shows, because I, myself, wonder what in God's good name is John Gosselin doing with cubic zirconium studs in his ear, with his shirt half buttoned and parading in front of TV cameras while his soon to be ex-wife is at home with eight kids- and all the women say, “that’s a man for ya!"- And why do I know so much about this couples situation? Why do I care? Because I'm a victim of reality TV.
One reason I enrolled in classes this semester was to keep my brain from dry rotting. To often, I found myself in front of the “tele” watching people live there lives while I lay on the sofa living mine. It's depressing when you think about it. At one point I contemplated canceling the cable; my husband, of course, wouldn't let this happen. I needed a reason to break the habit in order for the habit to be broke. I enjoy learning, but I was tired of learning about "The Girls Next Door" and rationalizing my addiction as a "guilty pleasure."
After watching a good few hours of so-called "reality", I would, somehow, be mentally and physically drained of energy. I felt as if the couch and the TV were in alliance to eat my brain, and I was the unassuming schmuck unaware of their partaking. At some point I became aware, which is when I decided to go back to school, for no other reason then to prevent my mind from becoming void. Being in school forces me to read, and forces me to think; yes, sometimes I need to be forced to think.
If the couch and the TV have this effect on me, I assume it has this same effect on others. What if we all replaced TV with books? Would there be less violence, illiteracy and unemployment? People could save money on $1500 flat screen HDTVs and $100 a month cable bills and use that money, instead, towards their mortgage payment so that the government wouldn't have to come up with some sort of bail out bill to bail them out. Seems common sense, to me.
I would be lying if I said that I don't watch TV. I do, but not near as much. At the end of the day, after having established a certain sense of accomplishment, I still turn the TV on and veg out to some mindless show on E! At times, I need a state of mindlessness, and that's okay because my mind is already filled enough not to let the mindless banter of reality TV to enter.