How much of a RW orientation is simply ignorance ?

[steve2470]

Serious question. Ignorance in the sense that one does not know certain facts or value systems, etc... What do you think ?

[Finder]

1. Most of it....

combine that with fear and pack mentality and you have a full fledged freeper.

[ironman202]

4. hmmm

Bierce defines religion as the daughter of fear and guilt explaining to ignorance the nature of the unknowable. I dare say same goes for the average freep

[Psyop Samurai]

2. Quite a bit, I'd say...

...but the exploitation of that ignorance is ultimately attributable to psychopathy.

[LibDemAlways]

3. RW orientation can be summed up

in the simple phrase "I've got mine. Who the hell cares about you?"

I think its primarily greed, not ignorance.

[Finder]

7. most RWers are not rich...

the Neocons are though.

[LibDemAlways]

9. Most of the repukes I know are rich and greedy.

But even those farther down on the economic ladder are quick to blame "welfare queens" and "freeloaders" for what's wrong with this country. They sure as hell don't concern themselves with creating a just society for all.

[Ladyhawk]

15. Willful ignorance and greed. n/t

[mcar]

13. Bingo!

Every Repuke I know cares only about themselves and uses all that other (moral values) stuff as an excuse for being selfish.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. For followers, it's all hindbrain stuff. For leaders, it's manipulation of

said hindbrain stuff.

"Stuff" is a technical term. Don't try this at home.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. the ones I've talked to

think that "all them Arabs are alike". So they don't understand that Saddam didn't have anything to do with 911-he was Arab and so was involved. They also have the quaint notion that all Arabs are Muslim and therefore Saddam was best buddies with Osama. They also think that all the people of Iran are Arabs (oh, my Persian friends laugh at that!), and when Saddam realized we were coming, he gave his nukes to Iran. They think all Muslims are terrorists and that they all believe the same way. They also think that "Allah" is a foreign god, possibly an idol--they don't want to hear that it is Arabic for God, or that-surprise-the Bible wasn't originally written in English.

[marbuc]

8. I would agree

The RW orientation is often based in a fear (or perhaps misunderstanding) of the unknown, and the way the media portrays that unknown. In the absence of minorities (people of color, and GLBT) in their communities, if the local news and talk radio is their only exposure to these cultures, they will probably have a distorted view.

I also think the RW orientation is based in a individualistic, sometimes even selfish world view. They hate the idea of someone getting "something for nothing," and cannot or will not understand that life is more complicated than that, that people need a support system. If that support system is not provided by private entities (family and friends), the government needs to help correct that market failure.

[CottonBear]

10. Many of these folks have never traveled outside of the USA

and don't have a post-secondary education or speak a foreign language. (My in-laws come to mind.) They don't like gay people (especially their own gay children who've they've disowned). They express surprise that "there were so many Asians" in Hawaii (their only trip outside of the continental USA). They use the N word and openly support David Duke (I know people who've said they'd vote for him if he ran again). They take offense at the word redneck (which refers to a Scots-Irish WASPs) even though they are French-German Louisiana Catholics. They watch only Faux News and believe every bit of what they hear.

It's sad but true. As long as they're not on public assistance (and maybe even if they are), they'll vote for Bu$h because of his anti-gay marriage and anti-abortion positions.

edit: These people to which I'm referrring are not the wealthy Republicans. These are the middle and lower-middle class Republicans.

[jaysunb]

11. can only guess how much, but

the mean spirited part that it takes to be a RWer is willful. So, many of them may be minimally ignorant, but find great comfort among the yahoos that accept being screwed as long as they can be in the group. ( Think racists)

[patricia92243]

12. The huge majority of people are not politically savvy, and that is why

they fall for whatever sounds the best. The Republicans have the media, so people only hear the "wondeful" things that Republicans do.

[RagAss]

14. It's fear....it's always been about fear...

[jim3775]

16. The way I see it

A RW orientation is 25% ignorance, 25% stupidity, 25% pure unfocused hate, 15% greed, 10% authoritarianism and maybe 5% sexual orientation/gender role confusion.

[leftofthedial]

17. all

for many, their views ared based in stupidity, greed and hatred

but ignorance is also required.

[Warren DeMontague]

18. All the parts that aren't delusion, hate or greed. n/t

[OneBlueSky]

19. people have been carefully taught how not to think . . .

telvision, computer screens, and shopping have taken the place of thinking . . . that's why what Cindy Sheehan is doing is so important: she's forcing people to THINK -- many for the first time in their adult lives . . .

it can be a discombobulating experience, to say the least . . .