Ignorance ain't really bliss.

[Beartracks]

The more I read about Republican schemes for "fixing" the deficit, and Republican lies about single-payer healthcare, and Republican gripes about how government should keep its hands off Medicare, and Republican plans to turn schools into education factories, and Republican beliefs that link money and virtue, and Republican fears about changing anything for the betterment of all... the more I'm convinced that, unlike the old saying, ignorance ain't really bliss. If it were, there would be a whole lot more blissful Republicans.

Knowledge is where it's at. As fellow DUer northofdenali put it succinctly in another thread: "Knowledge is the most essential basis for a democracy."

I couldn't agree more. Not guesses, not opinions, not assertions, not sound bites, nor talking heads, pundits, or infotainment. Knowledge.

:patriot:

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[MisterP]

1. well, we don't HAVE all that many candidates for single payer, protecting Medicare,

avoiding school privatization, and favoring the rich, now do we?
;)

[Beartracks]

2. Sad but true.

A lot of people are greatly in favor of single-payer, and see the wisdom and value in it. But actual candidates? <cue sound of chirping crickets>

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[northofdenali]

3. OMG, you QUOTED.me?

K&R of course.

But that quote? Totally from the heart. I had 2 dyslexic (that was the name for it at the time) stepsons who HAD to learn to read.

Big bows and kudos to Asimov, Heinlein (regardless of his reputation), Robin Hobb/Megan Lindholm for her fantasies that included some of my best friends.

Librarians/Teachers EVERYWHERE :yourock:

edited to add: except teachers who don't know their asses from teacups. A geography teacher in my daughter's middle school informed her that there are NO moose in Alaska My kid wound up with in-school detention because she added a very succinct comment to the files she provided from the Fish & Game here (we call 'em feathers and meat:


"What are these, camels?"

[Beartracks]

4. LOL at the camel joke!!

Too funny. Your support and laughter and pride must have made the detention worth it. :rofl:
And of course I had to quote you; I couldn't have said it better! :fistbump:

btw, I've read tons of Heinlein, too. And somewhere on a shelf here I still have Asimov's robot trilogy that somehow I've never gotten around to reading.

[northofdenali]

5. Bear, I have to deny anything.............. the really old CIA/Bond bs..)

except for the fact that teechur was no longer employed by that school district within a month. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,:rofl::hi::hug:

Oh, I won't deny that my daughter is a smartass. She comes by it genetically. So are her dad, mom, most of her siblings, cousins and recently deceased grandmom. (My momma):loveya:

When we talked today, she remembered some stuff from grade school, too. We both :rofl: and :toast: after my grandbaby went to bed.

[gkhouston]

6. Then have some knowledge. The quote isn't truly "ignorance is bliss".

It's "where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise", which is a very different sentiment.

[Beartracks]

7. Ah, thanks for that.

Although I will defend myself by noting that I was simply using the common misconception of the phrase in my OP, as it is much more widely recognized that way.

Ha ha. So that's a lame defense.

:hi:

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