It's long been my contention that right-wingers are right-wingers for one or more of these reasons: fear, ignorance of the facts, and just good old-fashioned stupidity. The most radical ones suffer from all three maladies. Now there is scientific proof to back up my suspicions. According to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch column written by Kevin Horrigan, Dr. Satoshi Kanazawa, a social psychologist, concludes that "...young adults who described themselves as 'not at all religious' and 'very liberal' politically had adolescent IQ scores that averaged 11 points higher than the young adults who described themselves as 'very conservative' and 'very religious'...11 points is significant, because liberalism (defined as caring about large groups of people you'll never meet) is a very new thing for humans."
Kanazawa's contention is, then, that conservatives are much less evolved than liberals. Conservatives, like their neanderthal ancestors, care only about themselves and like individuals. It's a survival instinct that manifests itself in lower forms of species. For right-wingers, the needs of others are irrelevant. They care nothing for the greater good. Their myopic sensibilities extend to their own kind and no one else.
We see the effects across the sociocultural and political spectrum. Republicans, 99% white, are vehemently opposed to things which would benefit those not of their tribe, i.e., blacks, Latinos, Muslims, etc. Thus, reasonable policies that address the greater good--universal health care, affirmative action, civil liberties, social welfare programs, access to abortion, brotherhood, equal rights, world peace--have always and will always be despised by conservatives.
What can be done about it? The obvious answer is to elect liberals. However, we all know this is not feasible in Republican strongholds. We are still afflicted by millions upon millions of those who have not sufficiently advanced on the evolutionary scale. I can just hear the right screaming at me, "Evolution is a myth. We were created by God." My response? Then pay heed to your Good Book. God said, "What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?"
We liberals must try to inform and educate when confronted by a lower form of life.
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3 comments:
Great having you back after such an extended absence, Tim! Interesting study. I always knew that most conservatives (especially the fanatical, far-right, VERY conservative ones), were stupid. Now I understand better why this is.
Jack--
Groundbreaking study, really. On another matter, my sincerest condolences on the Joe Nathan injury. What will the Twins do for a closer?
Without Nathan, who knows? Before his injury, I was certain we would win the division, but not by much. Now I'm thinking the White Sox could take it by 2 or 3 games. Can't wait to sit in the new ballpark, regardless!
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