Four cornerstones of the American political psyche

"No one ever lost money under estimating the intelligence of the American public," H. L. Menkin.

"Sucker born every minute," P. T. Barnum.

 

When I want to hear an intelligent atheist, I listen to Pat Condell. He makes me mad, at times, but he presents arguments that are very difficult to argue with.


1) emotion substituted for thought

Yeah. Obama, despite no experience, absolutely devastating tax policies, and other issues, people are enamored. They don't want to think about the negatives. The Palin fans do the same thing.

2) fear
3) ignorance

These two are products of each other.

4) propaganda

Some can read several news sources, and try to get thru the muck, most land on someone who makes them feel comfortable.

 

I'm not disagreeing, but what exactly makes those four points uniquely specific to the American political psyche?

 

This is profound? For historians, that revelation is equivalent to saying: "Wow! did you see that big yellow ball in the sky!"

These have been the cornerstones for the moving of the mindless masses since the Sumerian civilization circa 3500 BC.

Most people don't do their homework.

Most people are too busy doing whatever they do each day, to read, learn, think, and decide. Most people are not taught to think--our public educational system at work, but no better nor worse in this area than at any time in history. Our solid old-fashioned educational system in the 1800s blew off the young Thomas Edison, and the German educational system had Einstein relegated to working as a postal clerk

Most people fear what they do not know, but they really don't want to know if it's going to upset their comfort zone in the least.

Propaganda, aka spin, is, and always has been, the prime medium for the exchange and spread of bad ideas and attitudes (and, for that matter, good ones). Ramses II's report on his battle for Syria was carefully told, but just by reading it, you can conclude that Ramses was a brave fellow whose arrogance and inexperience nearly cost him his entire Army. His personal bravery pulled it out, but his victory should have a big asterisk by it. Our own Samuel Adams, along with Paul Revere, did a spin on the so-called "Boston Massacre" which created a revolutionary mood, when the facts reveal a different scenario on the matter.

(Acts 19:32) "Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together."

Sounds like the average Baptist church business meeting.

 

You are misrepresenting the BB, Roger. That is NOT the vast majority of the discussions here, and I take very much offense that you would even imply it. And how many American Bars do you frequent ?

 

This is wrong. The current mind set is born out of a complete mistrust of the other side. Communism has crept into this country under the guise of benevolence. People do not trust the oposition to be up front and honest about their agenda. So what you see as non issues is a careful consideration of hidden agenda's.

 

Fair enough, but then I don't see much point in talking about it in American terms except with the understanding that it's only a convenient national example. As Major B pointed out, there's nothing particularly new here.

Um... What?

 

Not near as many times as I personally have brought up crimes by his associates.

I agree with the second statement, but there is a lot of substance here, on this board, well researched, and posted without sensationalism...

 

When I hear a politician say they are depending on the intelligence and good-hearted decency of the American people, first, I laugh, then I think of such passages as Jer 17:9, Rom 3:9-20, etc.

 

You and me both.