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The Problem of Republican Idiots

You can’t argue with a lunatic

How can the average educated and thoughtful liberal possibly understand the willful ignorance, convoluted thinking and loathsome conclusions of the “right wing”? Does the “totalitarian father” and strict upbringing explain it…the possibly genetic “authoritarian” mindset or is it the willingness to believe in the unseen all powerful man in the sky and by extension angels, demons, spirits, devils and miracles..? Is it the endless repetition of myth one sees on television and print media—the continuous brainwashing of the masses? Is it the fear induced reaction of the reptilian brain fostered by the global war on terror, or maybe the neurological confusion caused by so many shiny little lights and multitasking opportunities that feels a bit like an informational Las Vegas casino? Could it be the failed educational methods of No Child Left Behind that has abandoned critical and independent thinking and teaching methods for rote repetition and celebration of mediocrity—perhaps with no gym class brains are growing in inverse proportion to children’s waistlines…?

Who can say, but even more depressing is that studies show (along with my own anecdotal evidence) that trying to win someone over generally just increases that person’s belief in their own opinion. Facts just don’t seem to have any force with this crowd especially if they are of the tainted “liberal” kind. And it’s more about “feelings” for them anyway.

What to do then? Lakoff’s “framing” methodology is probably a start, but that’s pretty hard and requires endless research and discipline. Discussing the “efficiencies” of government vs. the private sector is another. Or perhaps it’s just they’re the Crips and we’re the Bloods and just fuck ’em, you know. Take no prisoners—no negotiating with lunatics. Concentrate on the independents and don’t bother with the 35 percent head cases. Dunno, but we’d all better figure it out fast.

The Problem of Republican Idiots

Tangible terms

Please spread this around and see if any Republican can vote against a tax increase on the rich. I hope you are also inspired to spread this message. Change the words and keep the message! Please start talking about millionaires as those earning $20,000+ per week. You can do the numbers on what a $10 million-aire earns per week and can you imagine what a billionaire’s per week earnings are! Inspire the base with this new way of explaining why the rich should pitch in more to the country that blessed them so much with those earnings. Ask your friends to look at next Friday's paycheck and compare it with $20,000+ and poll them on what they think.

The Problem of Republican Idiots

Resentment rules

Isn’t this idiocy just basic latent anger from not being popular in High School?

These people want a voice, like we all do, but the only way they can think to get one is to spout whoppers that jiggy the fear in the truly ignorant. The TI identify with the spouters of whoppers and gain self-esteem, falsely, by repeating the punchlines and acting all-righteous!

The TV and print media love it! It’s so unbelievable, it’s, well, it’s infotainment!

In order to run for governmental office, basic exams about the Constitution and How Laws are Made and maybe some Earth Science (like ACTs) need to be given and passed at a B level (like grad school!) before they can qualify to run! Oh, and how about an MMPI for the psychopath/sexual weirdness/lying tendencies… basic mental health evaluation… so we can expect some actual work from these “representatives” instead of “between the addictive high” efforts.

Jeez, Medicare is the most popular government program, ever, and these idiots want to change it!

Cut them off at the knees, pu-leeze, Mr. Alterman!

Re: The Problem of Republican Idiots

Authoritarian conservatives

Nearly half of Americans are below average intelligence, and this is a serious problem (and Republicans are over-represented in this group). However, the examples you gave are not so much of idiocy but the psychology of authoritarian conservatives.

As Canadian professor of psychology Bob Altemeyer explained in his book The Authoritarians (an amazing, and free, PDF that should be read by everyone) they have such an intense need to have their wordview validated by an authority figure that they will support any “leader” who simply says the right words—no matter what else can be proven about him or her.

It is in that context we must understand Palin’s comments; she was not referring to Fox News or the WSJ as “lamestream” or “left-wing”; they’re just code words that sub-communicate to her target audience. Similarly, Gingrich saying something eminently sensible illustrates that he is neither stupid nor crazy; what he is, is normally willing to say whatever crazy idiot gibberish will validate the authoritarian conservatives’ beliefs about the world.

And they are 25 percent of the population…

The Problem of Republican Idiots

The distemper of our political discourse

Mr. Alterman, I believe that the title for your article encapsulates the distemper of our political discourse, in which opponents are objectified as some species of inferior being. Of course, your title, in its enlightened-vs.-ignorant dichotomy, also provides its own rebuttal. Nothing so simplistic could describe reality. Unfortunately, this is not merely an academic point. This contemptuous attitude toward those on the opposing side--or those with different cultural values—is a major reason that liberals are seen as elitists by so many people, while liberal values and policies continue to poll well among the public. To put it simply, sneering at people really pisses them off! As a consistent pattern, an attitude of scorn and derision toward those labeled as "unenlightened" is really a type of sabotage of progressive politics, provoking a backlash which leads to a continuing loop of recriminations. This explains much of what is dysfunctional in our politics today.

The Problem of Republican Idiots

Herd mentality

Unfortunately the body politic is a funhouse mirror reflection of our culture’s civic inadequacies. By pandering to extremists and obtaining funding from special interests, too many of our “public servants” subvert their sworn duty to serve the people’s interests by hiding behind a grotesque charade in caricature on the MSM’s stage. They neither fear nor feel obliged to cater to the so-called “majority of Americans who are actually level-headed centrist individuals” because they are considered inert. Most of those individuals generally keep their nose to the grindstone and seldom plunge into the deep end of political thinking. That “go along to get along” mindset surrenders their much needed civic participation. Much like oxen to their yoke, they are counted upon to draught and carry most of the nation’s burdens. In the mass they form a great, brutish idiot that goes where prodded.

In times of crisis, distorted images of national concerns are contrived as scare tactics (taking advantage of a predictable herd mentality) to stampede these “level-headed centrist individuals” into actions or choices that are ultimately not in their best interest.

Our Republic’s Rhetoric Rodeo is held in the MSM’s arena where their talking heads, popping out of their TV “barrels,” serve as clowns distracting the more intemperate cattle from a full charge against their chosen demagogues or political positions.

Many opposed to what they sense as a corruption of our nation’s values and ideals have been shunned by the Democrats for their audacious participation in the public square. Can you guess how and who invests these valiant voices with the “Republican” mantle? Civil discourse and polite respect is apparently reserved for those the self-appointed intelligentsia considers worthy (namely, those who agree with them). The true idiots, or more likely useful idiots, may be those who do not realize that a good portion of those “Tea Party” participants are more citizen than partisan.

Our best hope is that there is an awakening of civic responsibility and action whereby a resolute citizenry throws off that yoke and reclaims its rightful place of prominence.

“Anyone who has declared someone else to be an idiot, a bad apple, is annoyed when it turns out in the end that he isn't.” —Friedrich Nietzsche

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” —Abraham Lincoln

The Problem of Republican Idiots

Language

I agree with and appreciate the positions in this essay. Unfortunately, progressives seem to have been infected with the conservatives unfortunate habits of ad hominem argument and name-calling, both of which habits convey no information other than that the speaker is angry. These practices undercut the power of the positions that are being conveyed.

The Problem of Republican Idiots

Darkness is its own reward

It’s my view that darkness is its own reward. And I enjoy sharing it because exploiters, also known as people on the dark side, ahem, truly enjoy taking from others in their pursuit of glory. Glory unseen is not glory, don’t you know? So I enjoy reminding them that they are out of their minds, or will be. Literally.

It may start, cleverly, with the decision to break rules, written and/or unwritten, for gain. But it ends with something very different than cleverness. As we see. For your edification; I offered this statement in a post I wrote for my blog a while back: “One day you’re okay, if not sufficiently wary, then the next day you’re choosing corporatocracy over God. One day you’re connected to reality, and a dictator is a dictator, and the next day (or decade or whatever) you’re far from it and drifting, such as when Joe Biden, a family man who lost his wife and daughter in a car accident and thought that maybe God had played a trick on him, tells the world that Hosni Mubarak is not a dictator.”

The Problem of Republican Idiots

Who are the idiots?

I usually respect Eric Alterman, but the title of this article is abusive. He may disagree with Republicans (I do too), but don't call them idiots, especially since they seem to have done a better job of selling their policies to the public than liberals have.