Before someone accuses me of saying that all Republicans are intellectually substandard, I do not think that is true at all. Nevertheless, we have an ongoing stream of psychological studies that link decreased mental capacity with Republican practices and policies. Personally, I think that the leadership, the Republican politicians and pundits, are quite bright, with a few obvious exceptions. The problem is that they are devious enough to take advantage of their base by promulgating policies, designed to pander to their mental dysfunction.
Self-deprecating, too liberal for their own good, today’s progressives stand back and watch, hands over their mouths, as the social vivisectionists of the right slice up a living society to see if its component parts can survive in isolation. Tied up in knots of reticence and self-doubt, they will not shout stop. Doing so requires an act of interruption, of presumption, for which they no longer possess a vocabulary.
Perhaps it is in the same spirit of liberal constipation that, with the exception of Charlie Brooker, we have been too polite to mention the Canadian study published last month in the journal Psychological Science, which revealed that people with conservative beliefs are likely to be of low intelligence. Paradoxically it was the Daily Mail that brought it to the attention of British readers last week. It feels crude, illiberal to point out that the other side is, on average, more stupid than our own. But this, the study suggests, is not unfounded generalisation but empirical fact.
It is by no means the first such paper. There is plenty of research showing that low general intelligence in childhood predicts greater prejudice towards people of different ethnicity or sexuality in adulthood. Open-mindedness, flexibility, trust in other people: all these require certain cognitive abilities. Understanding and accepting others – particularly "different" others – requires an enhanced capacity for abstract thinking.
But, drawing on a sample size of several thousand, correcting for both education and socioeconomic status, the new study looks embarrassingly robust. Importantly, it shows that prejudice tends not to arise directly from low intelligence but from the conservative ideologies to which people of low intelligence are drawn. Conservative ideology is the "critical pathway" from low intelligence to racism. Those with low cognitive abilities are attracted to "rightwing ideologies that promote coherence and order" and "emphasise the maintenance of the status quo". Even for someone not yet renowned for liberal reticence, this feels hard to write.
This is not to suggest that all conservatives are stupid. There are some very clever people in government, advising politicians, running thinktanks and writing for newspapers, who have acquired power and influence by promoting rightwing ideologies.
But what we now see among their parties – however intelligent their guiding spirits may be – is the abandonment of any pretence of high-minded conservatism. On both sides of the Atlantic, conservative strategists have discovered that there is no pool so shallow that several million people won’t drown in it. Whether they are promoting the idea that Barack Obama was not born in the US, that man-made climate change is an eco-fascist-communist-anarchist conspiracy, or that the deficit results from the greed of the poor, they now appeal to the basest, stupidest impulses, and find that it does them no harm in the polls… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Alternet>
Please click through and read the rest of this article. It’s too good to miss.
People, both here and elsewhere, have repeatedly asked me how it is that people can be drawn to vote for Republicans, especially since it is completely against the interests of all but millionaires, billionaires and corporate criminals. This is the best explanation I have found.
21 Responses to “GOP Capitalizing on Stupidity”
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These people hate. All hate, all the time. Except for on Sunday morning, when they sit in church for a couple of hours. Then they listen to a preacher preach hate.
And trying to debate or have a discussion with these types is an exercise in futility. I know….my family is all Repub!
“Those with low cognitive abilities are attracted to “rightwing ideologies that promote coherence and order” and “emphasise the maintenance of the status quo”.
They’re Nucking Futs… smile 🙂
Judi, I know the feeling. Condolences.
From the article — “Conservative ideology is the “critical pathway” from low intelligence to racism. Those with low cognitive abilities are attracted to “rightwing ideologies that promote coherence and order” and “emphasise the maintenance of the status quo”.”
Let me tell you about Jane, a white woman who was a nurse, husband Bill a Cree Indian and musician, and their son, Tommy, all of whom were part of my church congregation, a flaming liberal one to boot. Tommy took some hits at school for being part of two different worlds. He was very quiet and withdrawn. He was in my grade 6 sundayschool class and started to shine and break out of his safety shell when he was allowed to explore both worlds in safety and see that they could co-exist. Then mother, who always sat in church near the front, decided to leave the church and go to a very conservative congregation, I believe a Mennonite Brethern church. I asked if Tommy could stay with us but the answer was no. When asked why she was leaving. she said that she wanted to be fed and not have to think about what was being said. So Jane wanted to be fed pre-digested information so that she didn’t have to think. She was a baby bird in an adult body that didn’t want to grow up because that meant work and if anything went wrong, she wanted someone to blame other than herself. Everything in its place, and a place for everything. Unfortunately, I heard that Tommy was doing ok but he had retreated back into himself for protection. Eventually, Bill could not handle Jane any longer, and although he loved his son, he had to leave the marriage. I often wonder how Tommy is today — he’d be in his mid 30’s now. BTW, this is a true story that I was involved in but I changed the names.
From the article — “While most office holders probably don’t believe the “reactionary and paranoid claptrap” they peddle, “they cynically feed the worst instincts of their fearful and angry low-information political base”. ”
What better way to control the masses than to create a climate of fear and of change. Karl Marx referred to religion as the “opiate of the people.” Perhaps in this case, it could be restated as ‘conservative ideologies are the opiates of the people’ (although I’m sure Marx is cringing in his grave at that). A “dream-inducer”, opium is what someone is given to induce them to experience a fantasy instead of a reality. And the ultra conservatives certainly seem to prefer fantasy or altered realities over the reality that exists.
From the article — “The conceptual stupidities of conservatism are matched by the strategic stupidities of liberalism.
Yes, conservatism thrives on low intelligence and poor information. But the liberals in politics on both sides of the Atlantic continue to back off, yielding to the supremacy of the stupid.”
Very well said Lynn. That “she said that she wanted to be fed and not have to think about what was being said” speaks volumes.
Fear is their weapon of choice in their struggle to win the Presidency and any other offices they seek. Fear is a powerful weapon to use on the simpler minded folks.
Indeed, because arguments that inspire fear do not appeal to the intellect.
Recently heard a study regarding poverty & intelligence. An intelligent child living in poverty does NOT have the same ability in life to succeed as the rich child that is not as bright! We are NOT equal and poverty will destroy an individual and continue the downward spiral until the entire Nation has fallen. It is not class warfare, it is our very existance as a UNITED Nation that income disparity threatens…these aren’t just scientific studies, these are common sense ideals & Biblical morality that NOW the wealthy choose to exploit…yes, opiates, drug those mindless sheep & herd them to slaughter! From my unscientific research of religious beliefs, I have found that MANY ‘Christians’ consider themselves so without much thought, and only stay in that rut out of fear of reprisals for being ‘different’…we all want to ‘fit in’. ALSO, very few are willing to admit that another person is smarter than they unless there is a test, therefore, political issues are merely ‘opinions’ never right or wrong. This is why Rick Santorum has a voice…his ‘opinions’ are valid….to WHOM???? A small minority of fruit cake fantasy mongers with false beliefs! This is what used to fill mental wards!
Indeed, Zada. In order to develop, intellectual capacity must be stimulated.
Nameless, that makes sense. If there are corollaries between stupidity republicans and stupidity and between Faux Noise and stupidity. it takes no rocket science to connect Republicans and Faux Noise.
Nameless, I love your way with words. Top drawer!
This research points to a need for more research— there are a lot of variables involved— it is really a good start- lots of correlations– Fox News to low functioning / non- thinkers- ; We desperately need more research— but inherent in this need is the opposition the research will find as to who funds it—? Research is expensive to conduct ;. Look around at the mindless circus being fed the population– distracts doesn’t it ? The availability of drugs– both legal- prescribed , and street drugs– numbs minds . lowers IQ levels– so many variables involved I think—
I would certainly look at the influence of fundamentalist religion , It feeds answers to questions their followers cannot even articulate–religious fundamentalists as well as conservatives thrive on poor information presented by “experts”-..
I have rambled , Indicates to me how many questions this really amazing research leaves yet to be answered— TC– you make me think !!
I did indeed.
Phyllis, I always agree there is a need for more research, but if you dig into the nuts and bolts of this study, the corralaries are as close to certitude as it gets.
It seems that conservatives have allowed themselves to be duped for so long that a type of self-conditioning (personal brainwashing) has taken over as this New York Times article Critics of Safety Net Increasingly Depend on It.
Great minds, Gene. I followed a very similar thought in today’s Open thread.
We all knew they were stupid and now we have the proof!
We had proof before, Lisa. Look at the candidates for President. 😉