The contradiction there Midcan is that Ike was an excellent President while W was one of our worst.
Look, I'm not about to draw generalizations about conservatives being anti-intellectuals but you may have a point when you consider that those who are conservative and who have responded to this posting obviously haven't even read the entire article and have jumped to the conclusion that the author is being critical of Republicans and putting them on the couch when, in fact, the author is doing the exact opposite. He's being critical of Democrats, in that they just don't get it about how many feel about morality and he's putting them on the couch.
I haven't yet figured out Ike even though I have a signed letter from him from a grade school letter. But the tactic is the key not the result, and Ike was a simple man as was Truman Reagan and Bush Jr.
My point is the emotional attachment to ideas that are simple, but really not simple and then the criticism of democrats or elitists for thinking too much about what should be simple. eg Bomb em to hell!
I think I may have posted this piece some time ago and re-reading brought back my same 'feeling' (there's that troublesome idea) that it oversimplifies. I pulled a few comments from Haight and a reply from Howard Gardner. I tried to do the morality test but my granddaughter wanted me to read to her before bed. They are staying with us bad liberals this weekend. lol
"If people want to reach a conclusion, they can usually find a way to do so. The Democrats have historically failed to grasp this rule, choosing uninspiring and aloof candidates who thought that policy arguments were forms of persuasion."
"...morality is any system of interlocking values, practices, institutions, and psychological mechanisms that work together to suppress or regulate selfishness and make social life possible."
http://www.yourmorals.org/
I find above quote troublesome as I am not a relativist. Diversity and tolerance are our problems (?) as liberals.
"Most Democrats don't understand that politics is more like religion than it is like shopping." hm, is it?
now HG reply: See also Jesse Prinz on emotion and morals.
"Consider these facts. The right wing says it cares about groups, rather than individuals; and yet it favors the most rampant form of 'dog-eat-dog' capitalism. The left wing is suspicious of markets and wants to even the playing field across citizens. The right wing claims that its positions will reduce crime and strengthen the families. Yet it is the most left wing states that have the lowest crime rate and the strongest, most stable marriages. Happiness ratings are highest in the socialist societies, while lowest in right wing authoritarian societies. This list could be extended...."
...Right wing positions are more frequently associated with Protestant evangelicals and with traditional (Reagan) Catholics. Often the leaders of these groups (e.g. television evangelists, sinning priests) epitomize the opposite of the stated values. But both of these groups embrace forgiveness, absolution, being born again. Other groups—atheists, non-fundamentalist Jews and non-fundamentalist Protestants—do not have the option of absolution; they make firmer demands on themselves and are oppressed by their superegos. Note the 'pass' that non-combatants Bush and Cheney received, in comparison to Gore and Kerry who volunteered to serve during the Vietnam War. Note the forgiving attitude toward to Sarah Palin, with her sinning family, which would never be afforded a comparable Democrat. "What we profess is important—not what we have done". Howard Gardner
Some of Haight remided me of my thread here:
http://www.justplainpolitics.com/showthread.php?t=21380
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