Owen, I'm guessing (purely guessing; I could be completely wrong) that you have not ever had a job that brought you squarely into daily contact with "average" people. I suggest this, because if you had, you most assuredly would not be asking (paraphrasing now)
"Why are people so willing to be completely fucking ignorant?" The answer, IMNSHO is: the human population is, in the aggregate, on the average, with some exceptions, pretty happy being completely fucking ignorant. Another way of asking your question would be: "Why are people the way they are?" The answer of course, is: "Because that's the way they are." Of course now, I find myself wondering why you are wondering why people are the way they are... I mean, isn't it obvious? --Doug On Fri, Oct 31, 2008 at 11:57 AM, Owen Densmore <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Doug/Orlando: Your response suggests that ignorance/stupid people are at > the heart of the problem. > > But that does not really explain why they are so easily lead! For example, > why can't the Democrats have a Dept of Stupidity that figures out how to > inspire to them? Don't forget, they were at one time "The Party Of The > People". Can't they regain that? > > The "Founding Fathers" weren't dummies but they lead the nation. Did they > simply figure out how to appeal to The Ignorant? > > I realize elitism is likely an issue, but certainly we should be able to > speak to all? > > -- Owen > > > On Oct 31, 2008, at 10:59 AM, Douglas Roberts wrote: > >> Owen, >> >> Why in the world does this surprise you? I would like to suggest that the >> more intelligent of you on this list (we all know who we think we are) >> consider the concept of "average intelligence". Cogitate on the >> following: >> >> >> 1. The average IQ in the US is around 90. >> 2. The distribution has medium fat tails. >> 3. Bush was elected into office twice. >> >> --Doug >> > > On Oct 31, 2008, at 11:39 AM, Douglas Roberts wrote: > >> <snip> >> But I digress: what you were referring to below, indirectly, was >> educational level. I was talking about intelligence, or rather the >> abundant >> lack of it in our population. A small, but significant distinction. >> >> --Doug >> > > On Oct 31, 2008, at 11:48 AM, Orlando Leibovitz wrote: > >> Owen, >> >> In my opinion, ignorance, fear and racism are major factors. A recent poll >> indicates that over twenty percent of respondents in Texas believe Obama is >> a Muslim. What do you think the political race would look like if Obama were >> white? Also, many of the issues are complicated so people give up and >> vote their reptilian emotions. There are still people that believe there >> are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that Saddam was involved in >> 9/11. For these folks Obama's middle name is not a plus. >> >> O >> > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org >
============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
