What gives with us Americans?!

[Cal33]

Republican propaganda and lies are so clumsily put, and obvious to anyone who pays a little
attention to what they say. Yet, they do have so many followers, many of whom are not dim-
witted or lacking in intelligence at all.

Then a recent poll said that when asked about torture, 48% of Americans were against, but
41% were FOR it. 41%!! That's way, way, way, too high!!! And we know that torture is an
unreliable method for obtaining accurate information, since the vast majority of people would
say anything to stop the agonizing pain. Are there this many sadists among us? If not, what
other reasons can there be for so many pro-torturers among us?

What gives with us Americans?!

[Curtland1015]

1. Fear. People are scared easily.

They think "anything that even has the SLIGHTEST chance of keeping me safe is FINE BY ME!"

Never mind ethics or plain human compassion. Fear overrides it.

[Cal33]

2. That does make some sense. And if so, that's the one card the

Republicans play over and over again - stirring up fear. They do seem to be
extremely successful with it, too. And there are so many of us who swallow
it - hook, line and sinker - every time!

[TiredOldMan]

6. And Anger

Don't forget Anger. I was in NYC the day terrorists killed almost 3,000 Americans in one morning. They use that understandable anger and twist it to fit their motives.

[datasuspect]

3. the average person comprehends and reads at an 8th grade level

marketers know this.

political candidates are just one more product.

[glinda]

4. Yes. The majority of Americans are stupid. Actually think humans are pretty stupid.

[Interloper]

5. were you ever polled about torture?

I was never polled. Were you?
Where do they find these people?

[Cal33]

12. No. I never was polled either. Where do they find these people?

Well, just remember, there are 315 million people in this country. Let's say
250 million if we discount the children. The average poll involves 1,000 people.
So, the chances of getting a phone call each time they poll is one in a quarter
of a million.

[opihimoimoi]

7. Too many on the non astute level...most are in the basic level...unable to compute, read, think

They rely on Media to make up diff.

[spanone]

8. good question, no answer.

[Union Yes]

9. Religion, Bigotry, Intolerance, Racism, FEAR OF WHITES LOSING CONTROL.

I'm white and I've heard how some of these nutjobs talk when only white people are present.

[Cal33]

11. I believe what you say may be true, but some will very likely

deny it.

[timeforpeace]

10. They think of torture as being like the Taliban or alQaeda do it, to cause agonizing death, versus

eliciting information and once gotten, stopping the "torture".