Sep 102013
 

The Republican Party has been active at work trying to dumb down America to the extent that enough people will believe their lies to elect them.  The problem with parroting lies, in this fashion, over and over again, that even the liar forgets what the actual truth is.  Paul Krugman makes an excellent case that the dumbing down now extends all the way to the top.

10stupid-republicansOn Saturday, Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming delivered the weekly Republican address. He ignored Syria, presumably because his party is deeply conflicted on the issue. (For the record, so am I.) Instead, he demanded repeal of the Affordable Care Act. “The health care law,” he declared, “has proven to be unpopular, unworkable and unaffordable,” and he predicted “sticker shock” in the months ahead.

So, another week, another denunciation of Obamacare. Who cares? But Mr. Barrasso’s remarks were actually interesting, although not in the way he intended. You see, all the recent news on health costs has been good. So Mr. Barrasso is predicting sticker shock precisely when serious fears of such a shock are fading fast. Why would he do that?

Well, one likely answer is that he hasn’t heard any of the good news. Think about it: Who would tell him?

My guess, in other words, was that Mr. Barrasso was inadvertently illustrating the widening “wonk gap” — the G.O.P.’s near-complete lack of expertise on anything substantive. Health care is the most prominent example, but the dumbing down extends across the spectrum, from budget issues to national security to poll analysis. Remember, Mitt Romney and much of his party went into Election Day expecting victory… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Photo credit: rrstar.com

Click through doe the rest of this fine editorial.  Doesn’t Krugman make an excellent point?

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  19 Responses to “Dumbing Down Extends to the Top”

  1. Krugman always does. I commented to my painter that the cost of my Xarelto went from $100. co-pay for 3 months to $179. Of course, he said "That's because of Obamacare". He knows I'm a Dem. I tried to explain that it doesn't control drug co-pays but he would not listen. Sad, he's a young man of 45. While painting he listens to Limbarf on his headphones. EEK!!!

  2. You are so right TC "The Republican Party has been active at work trying to dumb down America to the extent that enough people will believe their lies to elect them.  The problem with parroting lies, in this fashion, over and over again, that even the liar forgets what the actual truth is.  Paul Krugman makes an excellent case that the dumbing down now extends all the way to the top." 

    Oh Patty – having to put up with someone who listens to Limbarf – horrors!

  3. When it involves Nobel Laureate Krugman calling out GOP stupidity, I just refer to what the preminent philosopher and economist, John Stuart Mill, said:

    I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid.  I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative.  I believe that is so obviously and universally admitted a principle that I hardly think any gentleman will deny it.

     

  4. The Republicanus/Teabaggers are in an echo chamber where only Republican/Teabagger ideology can penetrate! They don't know how to read nor think for themselves.  That would be too much like multi tasking which is beyond the capabilities of the GOP.  Need proof? . . . they're stuck of votes to repeal Obamacare!

  5. Mr. Barrasso is betting on his constitutents not be able and/or willing to read the news.  He probably doesn't either, preferring instead to read only the republican talking points. 

  6. So, another week, another denunciation of Obamacare. Who cares?

    I care and I hope the working poor care. NBC news tonight, former IBM retires have been thrown under the bus with the selling out promised Health Care Benefits in which a wife has stage 4 breast cancer whitch is terminal and now with no Health Care benefits… sigh

  7. The dumbing down of American has been going on for quite a while, and it is going to get worse.  The tea Party likes it that way because anyone who can reason would not vote for them.

  8. To Clarence Swinney.  Your comment was completely off topic.  I have warned to politely three times to post off topic comments in the Daily Open Thread.  Since you seen to lack the respect to observe such simple courtesy, I have deleted your comment and placed you on permanent moderation.

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