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The Ugly American

Electric Brain Sometimes living in the U.S. feels like living in the third world. Take, for example, this statistic: 20% of adult Americans think the sun rotates around the earth. When I first saw this mentioned (but not sourced) in a NYT op-ed recently I couldn't believe it. I mean, I know they have fact-checkers at the Times and all, but still, how could it be?? So I looked around and found two sources. One, reported a couple years ago in the Times finds the errant crowd more numerous; another, reported recently in a National Science Foundation survey, confirms the 20% figure. And according to that survey only 55% know how long it takes for the earth to orbit the sun. C'mon now. I want to feel sorry for these people but, to be honest, I have trouble imagining myself talking to them.

So we already have about 25% of the population, according to Bob Altemeyer, who are authoritarian followers, more or less impervious to reasoned arguments. Now we have another large slice of the population, no doubt overlapping to a great extent, stuck in a medieval mindset. Say, for the sake of argument, about 30% of the population in total. Do they vote in the same proportion as the rest of us? I'd like to know because the dynamics are important. By maneuvering around this bloc conservatives manage to regularly split the intelligent vote. To win elections, evidently Democrats need much more than half of those capable of making reasoned arguments. How much more is what's at stake.

In a world of limited political resources it doesn't make sense to try to re-educate, enlighten, or otherwise help such completely unresponsive people except insofar as that's part of some activity aimed at and in support of the Liberal base, or personally, insofar as one believes in small acts of unrewarded charity and kindness. And there's an important corollary: Liberal voters can't afford to lose their sense of solidarity.

Posted by George Kenney on July 6, 2008 8:06 PM

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I think it was H.L. Mencken who observed that no one ever went broke by underestimating the intelligence of the American people. Combine this with the fact that 65% of Americans get all their news from television, and the fact that few have time to do more than earn the money to pay the rent, food costs and the cable bill (having been broken by the exigencies of an economy given to military industrialism), and we have the reason why tyranny is self-perpetuating in this modern world. 30% of Americans have neither the time nor the inclination to question the pronouncements of their elected officials.

Those that have the time to read and question are halved again in numbers by belief in the two party system that always offers the choice of the LESSER of two evils rather than the least of three or more. Supporters of Obama are as naive as those who thought Clinton would be a refreshing change. Every four years a large portion of voters vote AGAINST the Republican candidate, and hope the Dem justifies their optimism. When will they learn? When they have the time to sit, read, and think, things not likely in a faltering economy or promoted by public education.

I prefer George Carlin's take on the issue. You're wasting your time voting. If you want change, take to the streets. Elected scoundrels prevail because of the obtuseness of the electorate that gives the store to those whose campaigns are based upon fear and exclusions. Progressive votes are diluted by the benighted prejudices of those who have neither the time nor the capacity to question.

What's the use?

Posted by: Gregorio | July 6, 2008 9:49 PM

I always found it ironical that what is enlightened in our Constitution was put there by an elite of cultured men steeped in the Enlightenment and in secular humanism. If the Bill of Rights were put to a popular vote today, it might not pass. Anyhow, it is being eroded before our eyes, with only a few pundits caring, and no public outcry. As Benjamin Franklin said, 'We gave you a Republic, if you can keep it!'

Posted by: benjamin777 | July 7, 2008 3:26 PM

Here's another brain pic for you:

http://tinyurl.com/5bgpep

Posted by: benjamin777 | July 7, 2008 3:29 PM

Thanks so much George, for relinking to the Bob Altemeyer show from October 5th 2007. I agree with your statement that it may be one of the most important shows you've done.

I would be interested in hearing another interview with him now, almost a year later, to hear what he has to say about the Obama movement, its followers, and also about how he thinks the November election will turn out and why. It is interesting to note that his 25% number regarding an estimate of the percentage of authoritarian followers was influenced in part by George Bush's approval rating — and that that has since gone even lower.

I'd also love to hear him talk about authoritarianism in Canada. We've got a doozeer in power now in Stephen Harper. If Obama is elected it will be the first time in a long while that the US has had a more progressive leader than we do here in Canada. Hopefully that will embarrass some sense into us up here.

Keep up the great work.

cheers,

Mark

Posted by: Mark Laver | July 11, 2008 2:19 PM

I'd better qualify my glowing praise for the founding fathers. In this video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rnLWSC5p1XE

Noam Chomsky reminds us of massacres of Indians in colonial New England, and how even so 'enlightened' a person as Jefferson wanted to drive them 'beyond the stony mountains'. Well, the Enlightenment principles were good in themselves, only they apply to all men and not just white men. And I still wonder if the Bill of Rights would pass today.

Posted by: benjamin777 | July 12, 2008 11:54 AM



Home FAQ Contact Archive EP Store EP Alerts © 2008 ElectricPolitics	The Ugly American Sometimes living in the U.S. feels like living in the third world. Take, for example, this statistic: 20% of adult Americans think the sun rotates around the earth. When I first saw this mentioned (but not sourced) in a NYT op-ed recently I couldn't believe it. I mean, I know they have fact-checkers at the Times and all, but still, how could it be?? So I looked around and found two sources. One, reported a couple years ago in the Times finds the errant crowd more numerous; another, reported recently in a National Science Foundation survey, confirms the 20% figure. And according to that survey only 55% know how long it takes for the earth to orbit the sun. C'mon now. I want to feel sorry for these people but, to be honest, I have trouble imagining myself talking to them. So we already have about 25% of the population, according to Bob Altemeyer, who are authoritarian followers, more or less impervious to reasoned arguments. Now we have another large slice of the population, no doubt overlapping to a great extent, stuck in a medieval mindset. Say, for the sake of argument, about 30% of the population in total. Do they vote in the same proportion as the rest of us? I'd like to know because the dynamics are important. By maneuvering around this bloc conservatives manage to regularly split the intelligent vote. To win elections, evidently Democrats need much more than half of those capable of making reasoned arguments. How much more is what's at stake. In a world of limited political resources it doesn't make sense to try to re-educate, enlighten, or otherwise help such completely unresponsive people except insofar as that's part of some activity aimed at and in support of the Liberal base, or personally, insofar as one believes in small acts of unrewarded charity and kindness. And there's an important corollary: Liberal voters can't afford to lose their sense of solidarity. Posted by George Kenney on July 6, 2008 8:06 PM « Post-Constitutional Realities \| Main \| Caveman Talk » Share this post: Comments I think it was H.L. Mencken who observed that no one ever went broke by underestimating the intelligence of the American people. Combine this with the fact that 65% of Americans get all their news from television, and the fact that few have time to do more than earn the money to pay the rent, food costs and the cable bill (having been broken by the exigencies of an economy given to military industrialism), and we have the reason why tyranny is self-perpetuating in this modern world. 30% of Americans have neither the time nor the inclination to question the pronouncements of their elected officials. Those that have the time to read and question are halved again in numbers by belief in the two party system that always offers the choice of the LESSER of two evils rather than the least of three or more. Supporters of Obama are as naive as those who thought Clinton would be a refreshing change. Every four years a large portion of voters vote AGAINST the Republican candidate, and hope the Dem justifies their optimism. When will they learn? When they have the time to sit, read, and think, things not likely in a faltering economy or promoted by public education. I prefer George Carlin's take on the issue. You're wasting your time voting. If you want change, take to the streets. Elected scoundrels prevail because of the obtuseness of the electorate that gives the store to those whose campaigns are based upon fear and exclusions. Progressive votes are diluted by the benighted prejudices of those who have neither the time nor the capacity to question. What's the use? Posted by: Gregorio \| July 6, 2008 9:49 PM I always found it ironical that what is enlightened in our Constitution was put there by an elite of cultured men steeped in the Enlightenment and in secular humanism. If the Bill of Rights were put to a popular vote today, it might not pass. Anyhow, it is being eroded before our eyes, with only a few pundits caring, and no public outcry. As Benjamin Franklin said, 'We gave you a Republic, if you can keep it!' Posted by: benjamin777 \| July 7, 2008 3:26 PM Here's another brain pic for you: http://tinyurl.com/5bgpep Posted by: benjamin777 \| July 7, 2008 3:29 PM Thanks so much George, for relinking to the Bob Altemeyer show from October 5th 2007. I agree with your statement that it may be one of the most important shows you've done. I would be interested in hearing another interview with him now, almost a year later, to hear what he has to say about the Obama movement, its followers, and also about how he thinks the November election will turn out and why. It is interesting to note that his 25% number regarding an estimate of the percentage of authoritarian followers was influenced in part by George Bush's approval rating — and that that has since gone even lower. I'd also love to hear him talk about authoritarianism in Canada. We've got a doozeer in power now in Stephen Harper. If Obama is elected it will be the first time in a long while that the US has had a more progressive leader than we do here in Canada. Hopefully that will embarrass some sense into us up here. Keep up the great work. cheers, Mark Posted by: Mark Laver \| July 11, 2008 2:19 PM I'd better qualify my glowing praise for the founding fathers. In this video http://youtube.com/watch?v=rnLWSC5p1XE Noam Chomsky reminds us of massacres of Indians in colonial New England, and how even so 'enlightened' a person as Jefferson wanted to drive them 'beyond the stony mountains'. Well, the Enlightenment principles were good in themselves, only they apply to all men and not just white men. And I still wonder if the Bill of Rights would pass today. Posted by: benjamin777 \| July 12, 2008 11:54 AM Leave a comment Name Email Address URL Remember personal info? Comments (You may use HTML tags for style)

The Ugly American

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