The Cult of Stupidity

[Archae]

Back in the 1950's, Isaac Asimov wrote an essay on "The Cult Of ignorance," showing how intellectual achievements are denigrated, especially in the popular media.

This attitude hasn't changed.

Worse among these are the blithering idiots celebrated by our political parties, "We can just have a beer with."
George Bush was the worst example of this.

Obama is an intellectual.
For that, he is slammed and smeared by the blithering idiots in right-wing talk radio, Faux "news," and right-wing web sites.

We're told not to use logic and reason.
"If it feels good, do it."
"Go with your gut."
"Use common sense."

Asimov's "Cult of Ignorance" led directly to Sputnik, intellectuals were denigrated and our enemies surpassed us.
It took about a decade to surpass Russia.

Our "Cult Of Stupidity" is leading to, and will lead to not Russia surpassing the US.
Countries in the so-called "Third World" will.
India, China, among others.

I don't want a leader I can have a beer with.
I want a leader who knows what the hell he/she's doing, and isn't so corrupt he/she stinks on ice.

[Fumesucker]

1. Yeah, and Cyril Kornbluth wrote "The Marching Morons"..

That was in 1951..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marching_Morons

[RandomThoughts]

2. Logic and reason explained many things, and people did not listen.

Because there are some people that are afraid that if people do think and feel, things will get better for most people. Yet they don't think and feel why that worries them.

Without reason, you can't find what is best, without faith, you can not find the courage and strength, and even compassion to find a way to move forward on that path.

Reason can help you stay on the correct path, while faith can help you over the rough spots.


And intellectualism in itself is not enough either, a person can smartly be bad or good. The Survival of the fittest 'if you can take it it is yours' mentality, and 'survival of the fittest' were both ideas of intellectualism, as are many other teachings of many faiths. You have to think and feel to understand a faith.

There is also a question of motivation, if a person is motivated to do bad, then intellectualism can lead them that direction, as can someone motivated to try and do what they think and feel is better.

The problem with a guy 'you can have a beer with' concept, was not that it was about that, it was that it was used to convince people of something while not speaking of the entire concepts of what that person believed.



I do like having beers with people also, but that is not the only facet, nor the most important thing in life. Nor would I say it is, but I will have beers, there is nothing wrong with having beers with friends, there is, in my opinion using the concept of having a beer, to do something else. Hence why I also post about wanting to have a beer and travel money, while posting on hopes of better ideas in society, because that is honest.

[Caliman73]

3. I agree with the point.

The anti-intellectual movement was well under way before the 1950's though. It came over from Europe where it had been flourishing for centuries. The US was built on the tension between smart people not so smart people.

Also, China and India are not 3rd world countries. They are developing nations, but they are not 3rd world.

I want a leader that knows what he or she is doing and that I can have a beer with. You can be intelligent, articulate, and sociable. Those traits are not mutually exclusive. Call me elitist but I could not see myself having a beer with someone as intellectually lazy as W. He'd probably annoy the hell out of me. I could definitely have a beer with Barak Obama or Hilary Clinton. I'd love to have a beer with Rachel Maddow although she is more into mixed drinks. Bernie Sanders would also make a good drinking companion.

[Fumesucker]

4. Personally I'd rather have a leader I could smoke a doob with..

But I never much cared for alcohol so I'm a bit of an odd duck..

[Caliman73]

7. Whatever floats...

Just going along with the analogy. There is an episode of Family Guy where Peter smokes one with Bill Clinton then they try to catch and eat a pig to cure their munchies. Pretty funny.

[wuvuj]

10. Sit down with the Joint Chiefs?

These dudes are always high on world domination? They sit around tokin' on big doobies and planning their next adventure.

[provis99]

5. odd.. Asimov was a right-wing Republican...

[Fumesucker]

6. The Republicans weren't insane back then either though..

This is not your father's Republican party, not by a long shot.

[MajorChode]

8. Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

Hanlon's Razor

[RC]

9. Today we have both.

Malice by the power brokers and stupidity by their minions down here with us.