This article caught my eye, because the subtitle could have come from my own lips.
“maybe liberals are just plain stupid”
I really don’t want to believe that… honestly, I don’t… But it’s getting harder and harder not to…
“Conservatives can mistakenly assume that liberals think like they do, in a learned and rational way. This is an exercise in futility since liberalism is not based on logic.”
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It is very difficult for me to call anyone stupid, and even more difficult when it comes to politics, and the liberal view. I don’t like the word, or the implication that somehow I am so smart, and wonderful, that I can call other people stupid. My daughters are quick to admonish me if I use the word in front of my grand kids; it is a forbidden word in their household, though I suspect that will ease as they get older.
I like to think that there are really no stupid people, just stupid actions, and beliefs. We all have momentary lapse’s in intelligence, and we all do stupid things, but we wouldn’t consider ourselves to be stupid people. “Stupid” is kind of subjective; it is one of those words that is difficult to define, but we all think we know it when we see it.
I recently violated common sense, and grabbed a pot lid from a stove that I knew was hot, and now I have a nasty blister to show for it. My first thought, was, “that was stupid”; I knew better, yet I still have a blister. So, I just had a momentary lapse that served to remind me not to be so stupid, next time.
Judging only from the many comments that were directed at the article (see the link, below), I would say that there is a general consensus among many readers that there is something “wrong” with the way liberals think, and alot of conservative people would call it “stupid”. Therefore, liberals must be stupid.
Now, I confess… I know a few liberals, and they are not stupid at all; they are nice, and sincere folks, who just have stupid viewpoints (okay, I’m just kidding).
I’m sure I could take the same article, and change the name to “maybe conservatives are just plain stupid”, and change a few nouns, and adjectives, and I would get a consensus that conservatives are stupid.
I think it is a mistake to attach such labels to liberals, or conservatives. In this case, it detracts from the perceived dangers of liberalism, and focuses, instead, on the definition of the word “stupid”. And that just encourages endless debate that can have no useful outcome; it will not change one mind. There is no amount of argument that will convert a liberal to a conservative, or, vice-versa.
And, it makes us all look stupid.
If you want to muddy the water in any debate, and create an atmosphere of hate, just start telling the opposition that they are stupid. Politicians do it all the time; Obama is a master at using such tactics.
His remarks about conservatives are more than just political rhetoric; they are often sneering, and mocking, and offensive, and are spoken from the mouth of a bully; (and totally unpresidential).
Obama is not stupid. He knows that his remarks will raise the ire of conservatives against liberals. I believe he needs conservatives to hate liberals, and, likewise, for liberals to hate conservatives, and keep the hate-pot boiling, because he knows his power base arose from hatred of Bush, and, now, even that has grown old, and embarrassing, so he needs a new hate object to replace Bush. And he is finding success in ginning hatred between liberals and conservatives. Obama is not stupid; he knows his weaknesses, and his strengths, and his power base; if he can strengthen his power base by insulting conservatives, then he will not hesitate to engage in such activity .
He knows that all eyes, and the media, are watching him when he insults large numbers of American conservatives, and he doesn’t care because his purpose it to alienate, and divide Americans, not unite them in bipartisanship. The list of insults, and snarky remarks, is long; from his San Francisco speech berating gun owners, to accusing doctors of treating patients based on profit, to accusing the Cambridge police of being racist, and stupid, etc, etc, etc. There are many. There are very few that even touch liberals, and none that I know of that specifically target liberals; none.
And Obama gets an assist from the mass media outlets, who like nothing more than to report negatives, and create hate & discontent, and perpetuate it between political parties, and ideologies, and classes, and races, etc. They thrive on ginning hate. And the same holds true for radio, and cable shows. Just like the mass media shows, hate, and negativity, sells; they could not survive without it.
Are liberals stupid ? Nope.
Are conservatives stupid ? Nope.
The truth is, Obama thinks we are stupid. And we are, if we let ourselves be manipulated by him, and any politician, and/or the media, who gain by ginning hatred between differing peoples, and differing views. And that includes liberals, and conservatives.
And that is just my opinion.
Spencer Holly
www.angrycalifornian.com
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OTHER RESOURCES
A good article, worth reading.
“maybe liberals are just plain stupid” http://wizbangblog.com/content/2010/05/09/maybe-liberals-are-just-plain-stupid.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Wizbang+%28Wizbang%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
