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Many on the right can see only absolutes
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.
Geoffrey Dunn provided an excellent analysis of Sarah Palin and her “paranoid” worldview in his Sunday column in the Las Vegas Sun. I ruminated on why it is so often, as in the case of Palin and many of the other right-wing mouthpieces and “teabaggers,” that I come away wondering what altered reality they inhabit.
It then struck me. Many on the right view the world and issues in absolute terms; it is good or evil, with me or against me. There is no nuance or shades of gray for them. I have also wondered why Republicans always seem to march in lock-step but Democrats often seem to be all over the map.
I believe it is their underlying worldviews. Republicans and those on the right frequently see only an absolute world, and they ignore facts that don’t support their absolute construct or make up falsehoods in the absence of facts. On the other hand, liberals (and some conservatives) employ a nuanced view of the world and issues.
With a nuanced worldview, it is easy to process facts that may not fit earlier conceived notions and incorporate them into an evolving view of the world and events. This is why Democrats and independents, including President Barack Obama, are open to a number of ideas on how to improve health care.
On the other side, Joe Wilson screams “You lie!” at the president even though the facts don’t support his contention; or people using Medicare or veterans’ benefits don’t comprehend the paradox when they rail against a “socialist” government takeover of medical care.
It is unfortunate that a number of our fellow citizens who are so vocally against the president and his policies can’t view the world and issues in anything other than absolute polarities. Only when they are able to accept and process all the facts can we meet and have a constructive discussion on solutions to the country’s problems.
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"Shades of gray"? I agree. I fear too many on the far right see only Black or White.
When Clinton supported NAFTA and and enacted it into law, that was a real nuanced worldview. It has done wonders for this country as far as manufacturing jobs are concerned. Maybe a black and white view would have kept millons of jobs in this country instead of sending them to Mexico and elsewhere. Most of the world is black and white - either you have the money to pay for something, without borrowing, or you don't. Black and white - read health care - we do not have the money in the check book. The dems need to get out of la la land and look at the facts and make black and white decisions, not the hemming and hawing and hand wringing hoping everything will work out. Facts speak for themselves, you do not have to read something into it or try and interpit what someone meant. True or false, black or white, yes or no, maybes do not count.
People can't protest the president's agenda or they're called racists. This from "the progressive" party.
This crap coming from the crowd of libs who believe that either Bush orchestrated 9/11 or Bush knew about 9/11 and did nothing to prevent it.
It fits to a T this statement by the writer: "ignore facts that don't support their absolute construct or make up falsehoods in the absence of facts. "
Why does the sun allow the word "teabagger" to be printed in their paper.
How about saying it right.
These people who who bang their scrotum on another's face or in their mouth during sex.
It's the definition and it is the meaning intended. The giggles from Anderson Cooper as he first used the term on air showed his sophomoric glee. His days in the dorm as a young gay man indicate his earlier use of the term.
The wailer states: "It is unfortunate that a number of our fellow citizens who are so vocally against the president and his policies..."
Actually it is FORTUNATE that a number of our fellow citizens who are so vocally against the president and his policies. If not, this country would be well on it's way to Socialism...
Stan, nice to see the underhanded shot at "racists". The progressives love to decry racism. If you didn't agree with President Bush you were "smart" or a "patriot". If you don't agree with Obama you are a racist. That attitude alone Ms. Dowd will sink your lib buddies.
Bill, "open to ideas"? you meant to say "open to ANY idea that pushes our contry toward a fullblown pandering nanny state", didn't you??
BrownIn4 Don't be so naive. There were far more Republicans in favor of NAFTA and GAT than Democrats. These programs were years in the making and began with Reagan, the original union hater,who himself was once president of the screen actors union. There is plenty of balme to go around on both sides of the isle. I just purchased a new GM car- made in Mexico. That battle has been lost.
neiman1 It is fitting you would have a doctorate on this gay issue. In the furture you can keep your deep explanations of homosexual acts to yourself. I am not a fan of Anderson Coopper but I have a firm knowledge of your stupidity on every issue known to man.
Homer -Naive, I'm not. I was trying to point out to the writer that his views were one sided. He lumps all republicans into one bucket and then labels them and praises the dems for their open thinking. Both sides are quilty on where this country is headed and some open thinking on both sides of the aisle is needed. The Republicans and Democrats both need to open their minds and work towards the good of the country.
Regrettably, I believe it goes much further than absolutism; it is the fundamentalist approach to everything in life: Literal Interpretation, unredeemed and without any sort of humor or lively intelligent give and take.
In short, the pseudo-evangelical, neoconservative far right have become the Osama Bin Ladens that they profess to hate.
neiman1: I would imagine that the use of the word "tea-bagger" on this site and other venues is because the proponents of the imaginary tax increases use tea-bags hanging from their hats, their clothes, and their protest signs as a symbol of their cause. You should address your question to the tea-baggers.
No one openly questions the sexuality, until this post, of an overweight loud mouthed former drug abusing radio host who, although married three times, lived separately for most of these marriages and probably failed to consummate any of them. Since your homophobia is showing, you might want to look into the past of your favorite right wing nut job.
Far Right, far Left, not much difference in their hate for each other.
Several who post on this site would fit into these extremes and have tried to reduce the discussion to no more then name calling and using profanity to demean one another.
But there is hope. Both Democrats and Republications are tired of their party's extremes and moving to the middle. The Independent middle elected the President and many Congressmen into office during the last election. But time is wasting away and if neither party can get it together, there could be some major changes at the next election.
"ignore facts that don't support their absolute construct or make up falsehoods in the absence of facts. "
Are you talking about Obama's spiritual mentor?
You know the one that believes AIDS was generated by whites to kill blacks.
Willie Nah, you are making excuses for using profanity to address your fellow man. Sorry to hear that you are so angry at a radio host that you resort to such lowly name calling.
...says the people who also say "you support the public option or you support the status quo"
please hold while I roll my eyes...
"or people using Medicare or veterans' benefits don't comprehend the paradox when they rail against a "socialist" government takeover of medical care."
Actually this makes perfect sense. If someone is going to give you free money you can take it but still believe its bad for the economy or the country. It benefits you, personally, but it may hurt everyone else.
This may be one of the best letters that I have read in some time. The letter writer has what can be called "the vision of the anointed". Thomas Sowell, PhD., a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute, in 1995, published a book by the same name.
The letter writer talks in exalted tones about the nuanced world view of liberals and you can just smell the disdain for conservatives reeking from this tome.
Dr. Sowell states that several key elements are common to the anointed. See how many seem to fit this letter. Also, ask yourself how many fit the current cry from the left for a take over of the health care industry in general and Obama's political style in particular. They include:
1. "Assertions of a great danger to the whole society, a danger to which the masses of people are oblivious."
2. "An urgent need for action to avert impending catastrophe."
3. "A need for government to drastically curtail the dangerous behavior of the many, in response to the prescient conclusions of the few."
4. "A disdainful dismissal of arguments to the contrary as either uninformed, irresponsible, or motivated by unworthy purpose."
There are few things as interesting as when a radical leftist drops their guard and exposes their actual inner thoughts and feelings.
neiman1: is it just a Republican problem that you can't spell? As evidenced by all the signs at September 12th in Washington, and now, your posts. For crying out loud....spell-check!
From Cato,
It used to irk liberals no end when conservatives crashed peace marches, snapped pictures of the nuttiest signs, and used them to condemn all Iraq war opponents as troop-hating traitors. That didn't stop CAP'ers from trying the same tactic, to little avail.
The gallery of "racist, radical portrayals" they [Center for American Progress] posted after spending hours looking at tens of thousands of signs contains few that fit the bill. (If an "Obamunism" placard featuring the president in a Che beret gives you the vapors, you're probably too delicate to watch cable news without prescription tranquilizers.)
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_...
Axiom: In order to progress one must have change. Granted not all change necessarily results in progress but still in order to progress one must have change.
The trick is to put into place change that has had enough wrinkles ironed out to result in change that is an improvement, should not fail, is supported by an overwhelming majority of all stakeholders and is paid for up front - not borrowed. To simply craft thousands of pages of lawyerese onto crushed trees and say "these words will result in progress" does not know the facts and without facts and still pontificate their position is just another way of lying.
Black vs white? Chavez of Venezuela is as far left as you can get and boy he's gonna keep making changes ... just like Iran's government ... and Putin...and every other socialist that is or has ever been.
Socialism is a parasite just like unions are a parasite. Socialism cannot make anything new and unions cannot be anything other than a business to make money from feasting on a host business.
lcdrmandingonamvet rants, "I don't like getting advice from treasonous felons like Daisy Mae Mooseburger. She and TX gov Perry, both wanted their states to secede from our union." I don't think so...
Mr. whateverthehellyournameis, if you don't like getting advice from "ANYBODY", then don't listen to them. "Treasonous Felons?" If this is so, then state your case, if not, stop your slanderous name calling.
No, you don't know what Gen. George Patton would do. But, I would bet that General Patton would not like the use of his name for sleazy political purposes.
ghostcommander: We are in the 21 Century, not the 1930's. Besides, your command has been nothing but ghosts for years.
Pull your name calling head out of your hate filled rear and pull yourself together. While you demeanize the Republican Party, the Democrat Party is doing to you what you thought the Republicans were doing to you.
Come on man, pull up your lederhosen, have a tall mug of St Pauli Girl and let's get ready for Oktoberfest.
"Making an obvious reference to the Ku Klux Klan, Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., said Tuesday that people will be putting on "white hoods and white uniforms again and riding through the countryside" if emerging racist attitudes, which he says were subtly supported by Wilson, are not rebuked. He said Wilson must be disciplined as an example."
Not much shade of gray in the gentleman from Georgia's statement is there? Really, all the bickering is getting old. People in DC need to get over themselves and get to work.
neiman1:
My definition of Teabagger is this: Any Republican or independent who is anti-Obama.
This is how I will use it on this post. If you
don't want to be called teabaggers stop having
tea bag parties and stop hanging tea bags from
your hats.
Hey teamster, If you will quit using the word "teabagger," I won't mention that Jimmy Carter is a Democrat. And worse yet, if you don't agree with him, you, my friend, are a racist.
tmbttd:
Union workers built Las Vegas and most of
this country. Union workers made the middle
class and this country strong. You anti-union
nut-jobs are whats wrong with this country.
LarryVegas:
Jimmy Carter was right and President Obama
was also right by playing it down. Sometimes
the truth hurts.
OK teamster, if you think that Carter and Obama are right, then, my friend, you are no racist.
Yes teamster, you are right... The truth does hurts... Jimmy is a Democrat...
But, buy American and shop at businesses that employ Americans...
Larry:
I think President Obama was right in raising
the tariffs on Chinese tires. I hope this is the
first step in bringing some of our jobs back from
China.
teamster:
We as a country need to start thinking what's best for this country for a change. I would have like to have seen the "Cash for Clunkers" been for American made only... Oh well...
Angry,
You said:
"He said "You tell any 10 soldiers from any other army that only one in ten of them will survive, and every one of them expects to be dead. You tell ten American soldiers that only one in ten of them will survive and every last one of them is thinking... Cool I am gonna live through this!"
Too many Americans think they will be on the 'rich' side of the grand divide we are creating. And if you have to think about it, well, you are already on the wrong side of that game."
Can you clarify your point, please? Are you saying that American's should not have hope that they can be "rich" if they work hard, stay in school, etc? Thanks.
LarryVegas:
Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
His efforts to advance democracy and fight for
human rights cannot be overstated. Yes, I'm proud
that this wounderfull man calls himself a Democrat. I am also proud of another Democrat,Al
Gore,who also won a Nobel Prize. Can you think of
any Republicans who won the Nobel Prize?
Sounds like a dumbacrat wrote this nonsense of an article.
Watch the youtube "Obama Deception Video" if you want some insight into the truth.
VegasInsider:
Obama will be president for 8 years.
Get over it.
There is Patrick linking again to the NeoCON funded thinktank Cato institute.
What a sad, sad world it must be for you Patrick. I would never insult your limited intelligence by providing Daily Kos links to backup my points.
You know what, the Dodgers will win the World Series and here is a link to a fan blog on Dodger Blues as proof that they will. /sarcasm
You are probably too dense to realize it, but it speaks volumes about your arguments and your positions -- that you only choose to provide neoconservative partisan links as proof to back up your neoconservative declarations of 'fact'. Grow up already.
For ghostcommander: Great rebuttal piece! How dare you assault your fellow Americans with the truth! Why I oughta....
Most on the Left only see absolutes: let government, which has never produced anything of tangible value, control our lives. Over my dead body.
"Union workers built Las Vegas and most of
this country. Union workers made the middle
class and this country strong. You anti-union
nut-jobs are whats wrong with this country."
About 12% of the work force in the U.S. are union members and their numbers decline every year. Most would agree that unions were invaluable when they began and employers had few, if any, restrictions on the abuses they could impose on employees. Since then government regulations have taken the place of unions in many regards. It has been argued that union membership removes employee incentive - if doing a better job has no reward, why try? There is some evidence to support this - in the auto industry for example.
When unions were formed they were run by those in the workforce - volunteers who had a direct stake in the outcome of their negotiations. It's no secret that unions are now a big business, usually motivated by politics and profits.
My point in stating all this is that many people take a non-emotional look at unions and don't see much value in them. Why does that make them nut-jobs?
Hey Angry,
Good points. I loved "All in the Family". One of the best shows ever on TV. I long for those days.
Another thing to think about is this; The top 20% of earners (the "rich) and the bottom 20% (the poor) is a constantly changing group. Income returns show that more than 4/5 of those in the bottom today will not be there about 9 years later. Slightly more have reached the top bracket over that time period than remained in the bottom (these data are extracted from the 1979 income tax return data and are extrapolated from the book 'The Vision of the Anointed" by Dr. Thomas Sowell).
Another interesting statistic; about 20,000 of the 'poor' own a heated pool or Jacuzzi. What a country!
here, here, brother