US ill with powerful mutant strain of ignorance anti-rationalism anti-intellectualism

[daveman]

Translation: I'll only use sources that support my preconceived ideas. Also, I can't be bothered to read your argument, mostly because I know that I'm wrong.

OP is right. Modern conservatives are mostly idiots who hate anybody smarter than they are.

And modern liberals think they're smarter than everyone else because they tell each other that.

 

[Wonky Pundit]

Maybe because both the author and the OP are engaging in projection.

If that's not addressing the premise, what would be?

To say that someone is projecting is not much of an argument all by itself. Maybe you can support your conclusion with - I dunno - reasoning?

 

[Oddball]

Maybe because both the author and the OP are engaging in projection.

If that's not addressing the premise, what would be?

To say that someone is projecting is not much of an argument all by itself. Maybe you can support your conclusion with - I dunno - reasoning?

Or maybe you could just click on the link in #3 and/or Google "Freudian projection".

 

[theHawk]

There are few subjects more timely than the one tackled by Susan Jacoby in her new book, “The Age of American Unreason,” in which she asserts that “America is now ill with a powerful mutant strain of intertwined ignorance, anti-rationalism and anti-intellectualism.”

Are you the first confirmed case?

 

[Wonky Pundit]

Maybe because both the author and the OP are engaging in projection.

If that's not addressing the premise, what would be?

To say that someone is projecting is not much of an argument all by itself. Maybe you can support your conclusion with - I dunno - reasoning?

Or maybe you could just click on the link in #3 and/or Google "Freudian projection".

If you're criticizing Jacobson, using a general definition of Freudian projection doesn't help your case.

 

[Smash_Hits]

Source?

Are you serious?

Obama won California by almost 25%. That was the same election that saw Proposition 8 win by 5%. Who do you think voted in that election?

Martians?

That doesn't mean a majority of democrats voted in favor of it, though. Remember that many people that considered themselves moderates supported Obama. I'm not saying that no democrats voted for it, but saying that it was the "rank and file" that did it is presumptuous.

The Supreme Court is the highest authority. Bachmann is not. And it isn't a fallacy if the agreement is that the authority in question is what sets the rules in the first place.

Yes it is. That same authority legalized Jim Crow laws and slavery. The constitution did not change after they ruled, yet they still reversed the ruling. That means that, despite being the highest authority, they can be wrong. Citing them as proof that someone is wrong is no more valid than appropriate than citing God.

[/quote]

You're right. Hadn't looked at it that way before.

Glenn Beck is in on this conspiracy - USATODAY.com
The rest of his books he probably "wrote" though.

And?[/QUOTE]

I just thought it merited posting. I don't think rdean meant that anyone who wrote books was intellectual. I think he meant that intellectuals like books.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

That doesn't mean a majority of democrats voted in favor of it, though. Remember that many people that considered themselves moderates supported Obama. I'm not saying that no democrats voted for it, but saying that it was the "rank and file" that did it is presumptuous.

Exit polls clearly showed that blacks voted for Proposition 8 by an overwhelming majority. Large enough that it swayed the vote in favor of it.

You're right. Hadn't looked at it that way before.

Yeah, that happens occasionally. I try to avoid it, but even I cannot be wrong all the time.

I just thought it merited posting. I don't think rdean meant that anyone who wrote books was intellectual. I think he meant that intellectuals like books.

Glenn Beck reads more than most of the wackos, or non wackos for that matter, out there. That little fact would probably blow rdeans mind.

 

[Smash_Hits]

Glenn Beck reads more than most of the wackos, or non wackos for that matter, out there. That little fact would probably blow rdeans mind.

Yeah, but what does he read? Ayn Rand? Because we all know Atlas Shrugged is so intellectually stimulating.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Glenn Beck reads more than most of the wackos, or non wackos for that matter, out there. That little fact would probably blow rdeans mind.

Yeah, but what does he read? Ayn Rand? Because we all know Atlas Shrugged is so intellectually stimulating.

Mostly history, which is why his conspiracy theories make so much sense.

 

[Avatar4321]

There are few subjects more timely than the one tackled by Susan Jacoby in her new book, “The Age of American Unreason,” in which she asserts that “America is now ill with a powerful mutant strain of intertwined ignorance, anti-rationalism and anti-intellectualism.”

For more than a decade there have been growing symptoms of this affliction, from fundamentalist assaults on the teaching of evolution to the Bush administration’s willful disavowal of expert opinion on global warming and strategies for prosecuting the war in Iraq. Conservatives have turned the term “intellectual,” like the term “ liberal,” into a dirty word in politics (even though neo-conservative intellectuals played a formative role in making the case for war against Iraq); policy positions tend to get less attention than personality and tactics in the current presidential campaign; and the democratizing influence of the Internet is working to banish expertise altogether, making everyone an authority on everything. Traditional policy channels involving careful analysis and debate have been circumvented by the Bush White House in favor of bold, gut-level calls, and reasoned public discussions have increasingly given way to noisy partisan warfare among politicians, commentators and bloggers alike.

The Age of American Unreason - Book - Review - New York Times

America was founded on the basis of several strands of European intellectualism: the Enlightenment, rationalism, Deism, and republican democracy among others. How can this America survive if the very notion of intellectualism itself is dismissed, never mind actual intellectual pursuits themselves? Thomas Jefferson pointed out that "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Americans, unfortunately are very ignorant — and worse yet, proud of their ignorance. They know little and want to know less; in the process they are likely to lose much of what they have.

Book Review - The Age of American Unreason, by Susan Jacoby

-------------------------------------------

I'm pretty sure Jethro and Ellie Mae aren't interested. And to think, this was written three years ago. Not, "Will it get worse before it gets better?", but, "How much worse will it get before it gets better?"

Yeah. It's called progressivism. The same cancer that's been at work on the mind and thoughts of this people for the past century.

 

[Avatar4321]

The representative was the OP, ya projecting dope.

I think intellectuals are a "good" thing and I don't share occult beliefs.

Shame that the intellectuals you like don't really know anything.

 

[Avatar4321]

Unlike right wingers, scientists are always "learning". They write books, not study just one.

Writing books doesn't really mean you've got anything worth saying.

Hitler wrote a book. Does that make him smart?

Yet despite the obvious flaw in your argument, I don't think youll recognize it.

 

[Avatar4321]

It's common knowledge that today's rank & file Repub voters detest book- larnin'. Buckley would turn over in his grave knowing what conservatism has become. Sad that.

You'd be surprised how much "common knowledge" is an outright lie.

 

[Avatar4321]

Maybe because both the author and the OP are engaging in projection.

If that's not addressing the premise, what would be?

2% of scientists don't believe in "evolution".

87% believe in Climate Change.

6% of scientists are Republican.

That means only a third of Republican scientists don't believe in evolution.

Yet, what percentage of Republicans believe in evolution? Shall we go find out? I'm sure the answer is hilarious.

It's clear, the Republicans do not trust scientists. The least educated don't believe the most educated. To Republicans, scientists are either idiots with no common sense who are without social skills and "too smart" and "over educated" to take care of themselves or scientists are lazy "elitists" who rest on their degrees, get government money and do nothing to contribute to the country.

I've heard this argument in various forms on this site at least a hundred time.

80% of internet statistics are made up.

Deal with it.

 

[Avatar4321]

2% of scientists don't believe in "evolution".

87% believe in Climate Change.

6% of scientists are Republican.

That means only a third of Republican scientists don't believe in evolution.

Yet, what percentage of Republicans believe in evolution? Shall we go find out? I'm sure the answer is hilarious.

It's clear, the Republicans do not trust scientists. The least educated don't believe the most educated. To Republicans, scientists are either idiots with no common sense who are without social skills and "too smart" and "over educated" to take care of themselves or scientists are lazy "elitists" who rest on their degrees, get government money and do nothing to contribute to the country.

I've heard this argument in various forms on this site at least a hundred time.

Climate change "science" it can't be proven, only believed in.

Like "Gawd". Only with "climate change", you can collect "data".

Anyone can learn about God through direct interaction. Unlike with "Climate change" where you have to ignore and falsify data for support that we are expected to blindly believe.

And unlike God, "Climate change" can change depending on the stats. God is always consistant.

 

[Avatar4321]

Glenn Beck reads more than most of the wackos, or non wackos for that matter, out there. That little fact would probably blow rdeans mind.

I have to wonder when rdean last picked up a book sometimes.

Personally, I only read 2 last week. Im alittle behind for this week but i have a kind of work vacation later this week so i should get alot of reading done.

 

[Smash_Hits]

Glenn Beck reads more than most of the wackos, or non wackos for that matter, out there. That little fact would probably blow rdeans mind.

I have to wonder when rdean last picked up a book sometimes.

Personally, I only read 2 last week. Im alittle behind for this week but i have a kind of work vacation later this week so i should get alot of reading done.

I read alot too.

 

[mike beev]

Lose your ignorance? Get more data, that's how. "Winner-Take-All Politics..." by Hacker and Pierson is a good place to go on economic issues (in 2007 the top 25 hedge fund managers averaged $900 million in yearly compensation and paid a tax rate of 15%). Statistics on glacial retreat (87% are are retreating), flora and fauna migration (about 10 K per decade northward and upward on average) and the North Pole ice cap is shrinking (an ice free channel is just about available now year around).

 

[Avatar4321]

Glenn Beck reads more than most of the wackos, or non wackos for that matter, out there. That little fact would probably blow rdeans mind.

I have to wonder when rdean last picked up a book sometimes.

Personally, I only read 2 last week. Im alittle behind for this week but i have a kind of work vacation later this week so i should get alot of reading done.

I read alot too.

As well you should. As everyone should but few do.