Is the old adage "Question Authority" considered blasphemy to the GOP?

[Toots]

I grew up with that thought and sported a bumper sticker with it for years, but I have noticed that it really seems to piss off the right wingers. Do they believe "Authority" is above being questioned or what? :shrug: Or as the Army puts it , "Your's is not to reason why, your's is but to do or die."

[Burma Jones]

1. I've seen "Obey Authority" bumper stickers

I think they're upset by what they see as the questioning of values. These values used to come to us from the Pulpit and the School and were unquestioned in any public way. Without strong authority figures, they have to think for themselves and that would separate them from the group. They like the Shepherd/Sheep relationship in all their doings......

[HereSince1628]

2. Appealing to authority is part of the conservative personality

Appealing to authority provides a mechanism that facilitates quick and simple solutions and avoids the mental distress brought on by thoughtful consideration of complex problems with competing values.

It externalizes the problem and places all responsibility for decision making/choosing a course of action on the authority.

It also frees individuals of the need to question the course dictated by the authoritative other. The individuals job is simply to do what is told, and not to question the mysterious if not dubious ways in which authority decides.

It also reinforces the need for authority. Everytime we let someone else decide, we've avoided the effort, protected our psyches, and become less less inclined and less capable of doing so on future issues. After a time these herd members become perfectly willing to accept dictates that are distortions and outright lies and willingly follow a Judas goat to their own slaughter.