Debunking "liberals don't think"
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| Fri, 10-17-2008 - 1:37pm |
I have often read the phrase "those liberals don't think, they only feel." Accompanying this phrase is often the analogy of Obama supporters as sheep who are so blinded by the light of Obama's celebrity that they fail to consider the issues carefully or logically.
First, I wanted to say that most liberals I know DO feel. They are very empathetic, compassionate people who do want to ease suffering in the world. I think that most conservatives are the same way. But liberals are not stupid. In fact, if you look at the data, higher levels of education are correlated with more liberal attitudes, although once you get into people with graduate degrees, the correlation flattens. The faculty at more prestigious universities also tend to be more liberal than the faculty at less prestigious universities. This is not to say that there are not highly intelligent people who are also conservative. My point is simply that saying liberals "don't think, they only feel" is simply a false explanation for disagreement.
Can't we all agree that two intelligent people considering the exact same information might come to different conclusions? Can't we all agree that two intelligent people carefully and logically considering the issues might still choose to vote for different presidential candidates? If we want to get over the polarization in our society, we need to stop thinking of people who disagree as being idiots.



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By making the distinction, are you implying that liberals may be intelligent but lack good judgment?
I think I see your point that intelligence and judgment are not always the same thing. People can make irrational decisions despite being quite intelligent. But I think that knowledge, intelligence, and judgment are strongly related. The more knowledge and intelligence you have, the more capable you are of making good decisions (having good judgment). One thing I find interesting about your analogy is that alcohol actually maximally impairs the parts of the brain that allow you to make good judgments. So the more you drink, the poorer your ability to inhibit your impulses and make good decisions (e.g., time to stop), regardless of how intelligent you are. So the analogy is an interesting one, but in everyday life, I think intelligence and good judgment will usually go hand in hand.
Not making any political distinction whatsoever.
Hmmmm...yeah, that's fair. In order to use our intelligence to influence our judgment, we need to have a well-developed and functioning prefrontal cortex, something the 16-year old and the drunk may lack, although most sober adults will experience a strong connection. (Can you tell I'm a science geek?).
I love the Star Trek analogy for the think/feel dichotomy. I think that both sides of the political spectrum can allow their emotions to influence their judgments to more or less extent, and that can vary a lot depending on individual issues.
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being one who endured a long list of classes, i would posit that one difference is the intelligent student does not consider any of the courses to be pointless or mundane - but sees the value of all education. and while lack of an advanced degree does not exclude one from being intelligent, there are hurdles that would require those who obtain advanced degrees to be above average in intelligence. so that when you say -
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- it leaves me doubting how you evaluate their intelligence. or at least where they obtained their degrees.
Bea
Most of the liberals I know are angry and arrogant, which is why they try to unjustly tie John McCain to George Bush, as if they're still running against Bush instead of McCain. Most of them are also elitists who think they're better and smarter than anyone else. That's why when a liberal is caught doing something wrong, as it is in the case of Tim Mahoney, they think they're above the law, above moral reproach, and above public scrutiny. Notice I said most, not all. I'm trying to be fair. The more power they have, the more elitist they become.
Edited 10/18/2008 12:29 am ET by shawk856
i'm so consfused... one second i'm begging for more more more, the next, i'm an elitist!
how is this "unjustly" connecting mccain to bush?
McCain's Record
Presidential Support -
Rep. Nominee John McCain with President George W. Bush:
Year/Support/Oppose
2008 (to 05/15/08)/100%/0%
2007/95%/5%
2006/89%/11%
2005/77%/23%
2004/92%/8%
2003/91%/9%
2002/90%/10%
2001/91%/9%
Sources: FactCheck.org
McCain: "On The Transcendent Issues, The Most Important Issues Of Our Day, I Have Been Totally In Agreement And Support Of President Bush." On "Meet the Press," Russert said, "The fact is you are different than George Bush." McCain told Russert, "No. No. I--the fact is that I'm different but the fact is that I have agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed. On the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I have been totally in agreement and support of President Bush…. But I will argue my conservative record voting with anyone's, \ and I will also submit that my support for President Bush has been active and very impassioned on issues that are important to the American people.…So I strongly disagree with any assertion that I've been more at odds with the president of the United States than I have been in agreement with him."
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