The American Electorate: Dumb as a box of rocks and a lot more malleable

[cali]

Yeah, yeah; I've heard all the excuses: It's the MSM misleading us, it's the politicians lying to us, but face it, the American electorate is too lazy and stupid, as a whole, to bother finding the easily obtained facts, many of which are kicking their front doors down while they sit in an American Idol fugue state.

Any one of the nuttier right wing republican candidate could be nominated. And worse, that nominee, be it Bachmann or any of the others could win. Should that happen, the American electorate will bear the lion's share of the responsibility.

[RKP5637]

1. Yep!!! In fact, Dumb as a truckload of rocks and damn proud of it too. Go USA! Sometimes it's

almost a waste of life's energy talking to some people. They are just too stupid and ignorant to even think they should care. They just don't give a F and let others run their lives and determine the future of this country. It's the height of laziness and stupidity. Frankly, IMO, Americans deserve the crap they get.

[cali]

2. I don't think anyone deserves it, but I can't ignore the stupidity.

[RKP5637]

5. Agree, certainly not everyone, but collectively the stupidity gets pretty intense. What always

irks me is the insatiable willingness of MSM to give the microphone to those most crazy so as to stoke their profits/ratings, and then the stupidity of those on the edge increases, because they see a prominent politician / authority figure echoing stupidity, they identify with them, and they get pushed into the stupidity zone.

[whathehell]

53. You should try

because apart from the obvious bias

and need to "distinguish" yourself,

which characterizes most of the self-haters,

here,

if you had something to compare it to, in terms

of living in another country,

of similar history and demographics,

I think you would.

[cali]

71. lol. word salad nonsense (not to be redundant)

Sorry, honey, but I feel no need "to distinguish myself" at all. Nor am I a "self-hater".

[whathehell]

82. Is that the best you can do, after that long delay, lol?

Sorry, sweetie, but your constant

bitching and denigration of other

Americans, gives credence to

to my first point, at least.

Maybe your not a "self" hater

just one of everyone else around you.

Big improvement.

[timtom]

105. How come this thread over here got 122 more recs than

this thread here?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1355187

If some of you folks rush over there right now, you might be able to unrec it enough to match this one.

Or is it about personalities and not truth?

[whathehell]

17. You are painting with a VERY broad brush...You need to speak for yourself

I've no idea if you are American, but I am, and I

don't care to be called "stupid"

I doubt if anyone on this board fits your description.

[RKP5637]

30. Agree, the way written it was too broad. A good number do

fit into that description. We'll know better after 2012 and hopefully I'm a fool!

[whathehell]

35. "A good number do"

Don't you mean "are"?


And where did you say you were from again?

[RKP5637]

37. Well, not from where you are! n/t

[whathehell]

41. Where am I?

[RKP5637]

44. Well, you woke me up this morning! Thanks! You know, I did agree with you that

it was tooooo broad a brush!

[timtom]

97. "A good number ARE fit into that description?"

Hmmm...

I believe the poster RKP5637 is correct.

[Hawkowl]

72. You sure are punctation free though. nt

[whathehell]

28. "Frankly, IMO, Americans deserve the crap they get."....Really?

and where might you be from, RKP5637?

I ask, because it does seem like some use this

site mainly as a means of venting their hatred

against this country and and it's citizens,

and I REALLY don't think that's

the purpose of this forum...There are,

in fact RULES against "bigotry, hate, ridicule

and stereotyping" of a group of people and,

believe it or not, that DOES include Americans.

[RKP5637]

31. I DO NOT HATE AMERICANS !!!!!!! N/T

[whathehell]

33. Really?.....How about "despise"?

and if that's not true, either, then what's with all the denigration, insults and umm, "good wishes"?

[RKP5637]

34. Thanks for the good wishes! n/t

[whathehell]

40. Yeah..I guess that is the best you can do now, isn't it?

The "good wishes" were on your part, dear

as you are the one who said "Americans deserve what they get"

Still not willing to tell us where you're from?


What a surprise:eyes:

[RKP5637]

42. Where are you from? You go first! I'm polite!

:)

[whathehell]

48. I'm from Chicago......Where are you from?

[RKP5637]

49. Near Chicago.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Syrinx]

3. if that happened, the American electorate would be fully responsible

Not just the lion's share.

It's not going to happen, of course. Michele Bachmann will never be president.

If Bachmann was declared the winner, people might finally realize our elections are staged, fixed, rigged, etc.

No, they are more subtle than that.

Not very subtle, just more subtle than that.

Keep on dreaming if you think the "vote" means anything.

Public opinion still means a wee bit. But we are ever so close to going over the edge. If we are not there already.

This country, I'm afraid, has been conquered.

It's going to take a very exceptional leader to rescue us. And that person will be called the antichrist.

[cali]

4. are you claiming that all elections in this country are rigged?

and what's the bullshit about the antichrist. you sound, er, a bit out there.

[Syrinx]

6. The right will call any person any name

Including "antichrist."

And yes the elections are rigged. The right uses every method they can think of to keep likely Democratic voters from participating in elections. Read up.

[cali]

7. I've read up. And I blame the voting public more than anything else

And no, I've found nothing that shows solid evidence that most elections in this country are rigged.

[BeFree]

26. dog, the stupid hurts

If not most, how many elections are rigged?

[whathehell]

43. Then, with your superior intellect, maybe, as Rowdyboy said,

you should stop the pain and create a "smart ray".

Elections are "rigged" all over the world...Please...Try equal opportunity insults.

[BeFree]

60. Was radiated, once or twice

Even experienced.

Don't need no smart ray to recognize they conspire on how to steal votes.
How do you think the crooks ever get power? Because they are the best? Bwahaha
Are some really so stupid as to believe elections are something crooks think are to be left alone?

[RKP5637]

8. I think it's at the tipping point for sure. I've always felt a shadow gov. of the extremely

wealthy and powerful are pulling all of the strings to collapse this country to one of the lowest labor rates in the world so as to bring back menial wages for manufacturing.

That said, I really think there is a lot of sociopathic like behavior going on in this country bred by runaway capitalism. I am convinced an element of this country wants to see others suffer so as to elevate themselves and feel good.

Watching others suffer has become a national sport.

Depending on how the 2012 elections go there well might be no turning back. If we see a strong republican win in 2012, I think those capable will start pulling out of the US. With the craziness here, I can't see the US being a magnet for highly skilled/educated/talented individuals. Today, there are just too many exceptional places in the world to live.

[Walk away]

52. My nieces were brought up to speak several different languages..

including Japanese. They have also spent time studying music and history Europe and Canada. Their parents wanted them to have a choice as to where they want to live and we all hope they will pick a better country to live in. Who wants the children they love to end up without health care and happiness?

[whathehell]

55. That's nice...

but do you think it's simply a matter of getting to "pick" a "better country to live in"?

Sounds like you and yours have a nice sense of entitlement.

[Walk away]

64. My brother and sister- in-law are educators and I own a small business

we are neither rich or entitled but we are lucky enough to have friends all over the world. My nieces are bright and talented and hard working so they have many opportunities.

We have all traveled globally for work and school and we believe that the standard of living is far better in several other countries. Why would anyone want to stay here if they don't have to? You actually HAVE to be entitled to live well in the USA.

[whathehell]

66. Really?

Then it sounds as if you are all doing rather well.


Why do you imagine that your "bright and talented and hard working" nieces

will do less so?

If you don't know why people "would want to stay here if they don't have to"

Then perhaps you should go, as it seems you are all "shoppers"

with no personal attachment to the country....Funny, that, because it

does seem to have "done well" by all of you.:eyes:

[Walk away]

69. You have no right to assume what my financial situation is.

If I had been living in Canada or Western Europe two bouts with cancer wouldn't have left me with barely a living. I actually pay close to $12,000 a year for health insurance but still pay out more than that in medical bills. Do you think I want my nieces to have to face that kind of future. Funny, but I have worked hard all of my life in this country and paid plenty of taxes and gainfully employed and insured plenty of people. This country turned it's back on me and I have no problem advising anyone starting out to get out of here and build their future elsewhere.

If I had a million dollars I would move to Canada and pay taxes to a country that doesn't pour it's national treasure into pointless wars and does take care of it's citizens with a national health care system.

Shop that!

[whathehell]

90. I can assume whatever I wish..

especially when you tell me what you and yours

do for your respective livings.:eyes:

Your Huffiness needs to stop pouting and move to Canada!

You don't need a million dollars and I know

because my spouse and I had the chance

and we turned it down.

I think everyone here knows

that our healthchcare system sucks,

If it sucks THAT much for you,

you need to go.

[ElboRuum]

106. Talking of the virtues of expatriation seems to be the new hipster trend on DU...

Rather than trying to improve the standard of living here through political action, they just want to move somewhere "better". People who would rather move than do the hard work of fixing what's wrong are the REASON why our standard of living is sliding into the shitter. Selfishness, self-entitlement, etc. ad nauseam. I am happy to see them go. You can't expect people with such exit strategies to be a part of the solution because they've already decided that they've already checked out. Good riddance.

[whathehell]

107. Agreed, although there may be some exceptions

as I said in a response to Walk Away (interesting choice of name)

if you and your family have no personal attachment to this

country and are just "shoppers" than maybe

you SHOULD leave.

My caveats, however, would be A.

Those who have pressing medical needs

that they can't meet here -- Her last

response indicates that she may be one of these.

B. People who are old, and are realistically staring

at misery in their later years.
They owe it to themselves, I think, to live
the best life they can within the time they have.

I'm otherwise disgusted by the "Who cares about the our country"? crowd

[RKP5637]

56. It's very said. When I was young and traveling internationally many of my

peers in other countries wished they lived in the US. In a couple of cases I tried to help secure them a green card and US employment, but the quotas and all did not work in their favor. Now I often wonder if that would be the case today, they might not want to come here, I just don't know. Health care for all to me seems fundamental and could easily be done. Additionally to me, the US is a very unhappy place today for many. What a shame.

[H2O Man]

9. I agree.

None of the republicans currently running is even close to being qualified to serve as president. There was a point when I thought that their party was accepting, if not content, with President Obama serving two terms. But I think he is going to have a difficult time being re-elected.

It surprises me that even some people on this forum take it for granted that he will have an easy time in 2012. They note some polls that indicate his popularity. However, as we know, elections are won state by state, not by overall popularity. If one looks closely at the map, it is evident that the republican ticket could win. And that's an ugly reality.

[RKP5637]

11. I think there's a good chance he might not win in 2012, because Americans have

such short memories and always want/think there is an instant fix for anything.

They are looking for their next savior that's going to wave their hands and everything will be fixed. Hence, they will blame Obama for all of Bush's F'ups and because Obama has not magically fixed everything.

IMO the American electorate is sometimes naive, stupid and ignorant. If, there is a major R win in 2012, I have grave reservations about the future of the US, and I don't say they because I'm a D. I say that just listening to what the R's say. Any thinking they are out to help the common man has their head really really deep in the sand.

The American electorate is being worked/manipulated by the R party, lambs to the slaughter.

[Robb]

10. Meh. Most people believe everyone else is an idiot.

[whathehell]

14. Exactly.....Frankly, I think the people are starting to wake up, as indicated by the push backs on

the Ryan Budget, Wisconsin Union-busting, Calls to Tax the Rich and Get out of the Foreign wars.

[Doctor_J]

18. I haven't seen any pushback that's actually accomplished anything though

The unions are busted. Taxes for the rich haven't gone up, and we're still in 5 or 6 wars. And the wingers in the governor's mansions are stripping away voting rights every day.

[whathehell]

21. It's can't happen overnight....

Sorry for your impatience, but the wheels are grinding, one has

to wait for things like "recall dates", elections etc.

Everyone of the "union busting" governors in the mid-west AND

in Florida is polling in seriously NEGATIVE numbers....The cops

in Florida just held a huge "Leave the Pary" event for police

to drop their republican registrations.

[Doctor_J]

27. Well, 4 years from now, when LePage, Scott, Walker, ... can actually be voted out,

will be waaaaaaaaay too late. the voter rolls are being purged NOW. And polling numbers 3.5 years before the election mean absolutely nothing - just like "leave the party" events.

I admire your patience, but it is a recipe for complete, disastrous failure.

[whathehell]

29. Umm...Walker, for one, can be recalled and that wouldn not take four years.

You say patience is a "recipe for 'complete disastrous failure'"?

What would you suggest instead?

[Pacifist Patriot]

15. Here in Florida we have proof.

[whathehell]

16. But what about the "proof" that, even in your state, people are fighting back?

Some here ONLY want to concentrate on the negative.

[Doctor_J]

19. Can you name one of Governor Medicare Fraud's initiatives that's been defeated?

:shrug:

[whathehell]

20. Has the process allowed them to be re-affirmed?

Sometimes one has to wait for the proper time.

[Pacifist Patriot]

23. Oh come on, I was just trying to lighten things up.

I am very familiar with "Awake the State" and am proud to know many of the local and regional organizers personally.

[Silent3]

58. Most people are right...

...about that, if little else. :)

[Raine]

86. Yes, exactly. That is everyone BUT themselves

I get so sick of this kind of crap. :puke:

[whathehell]

12. Uh oh....Five Minutes of Self-Hate Time again.

[OwnedByFerrets]

13. K and R

[Rowdyboy]

22. Then you should use your own towering intellect to build a "smart ray"

Because just telling people how stupid they are rarely draws them to your side...

[whathehell]

24. Thank You, Rowdyboy....I fail to see how these "let's call ourselves stupid" threads

generate anything like a "thoughtful discussion".:eyes:

[ChoppinBroccoli]

25. American Voters Are Pretty Dumb, But They're Not THAT Dumb

They were smart enough to see through all the B.S. in 2008, and they roundly rejected Sarah Failin then (and she was on the bottom of the ticket). So what makes you think that 4 years later, they're now willing to accept Failin or someone just as bad (or in most cases, worse) at the TOP of the ticket? Ain't happenin'. Obama wins in a walk, no matter WHO is nominated. The only one who could even give him a run is Romney, and he'd still get a Bob Dole-style beat-down.

[whathehell]

32. Well, given that it's "five minutes self-hate time",I guess the "faint praise" should be appreciated

as well as the fact, ChoppinBroccoli, that you may be including yourself

as one of those "pretty dumb" American voters,

but I, for one, get really sick of the negativity here.

[sufrommich]

36. We have an unfortunate situation where a good number of

Americans just are not interested in politics, at least not on a national level.These are the voters who are easily swayed by sound bites and last minute fear mongering.

[KittyWampus]

38. The really stupid ones are those who crap on others to make themselves feel superior.

You are either someone who see a bit ahead of the road and works hard on shepherding the "flock" every day or you are a pretender full of hot air.

[whathehell]

46. Yup.......It happens all the time here....despite the fact that, for one thing

we have "rules" against expressing "bigotry, hate, ridicule, stereotyping"

against ANY given group.

Too many here don't "get" that means Americans too.

Must be that "superior intellect" they think they possess.:eyes:

[Fumesucker]

73. We should also refrain from expressing "bigotry, hate, ridicule, stereotyping" against Republicans..

At least according to your analysis of the DU rules. :evilgrin:

:hi:

[pintobean]

85. If the American electorate were all republican

we'd be in a whole heap of trouble.

[whathehell]

92. Umm...No..

Because they are not expressing "bigotry, hate, ridicule, stereotyping"

against Republicans,

They are expressing it against "Americans",

without qualification.:evilgrin:

[hifiguy]

39. It's the willfulness of the ignorance and stupidity that is so

dismaying. So many people in this country are PROUD of their ignorance/stupidity and wear it as a badge of honor. So many people disdain logic or even thought. Much of this is, of course, based in batshit wingnut religion, which demands submission and views questions as the essence of, or at least the precursor to, heresy. Ya can't question gawd, jebus or the preacher-man. Ergo, you don't have to think at all when all the answers are in a book of fairytales at least 2000 years old.

This more than any other reason is why we are done as a society. The only remaining question is when the curtain falls, not if.

[sufrommich]

45. We aren't "done as a society". Societies survive regardless

regardless of their stature in the Global community, ask Britain.

[whathehell]

50. Well, how come, with all this "ignorance" and "stupidy, we managed to elect a Black Democrat

as President?

Frankly, you come off as just another nay-saying self-hating perssimist,IMO.

Pathetically, you imagine that if you call your countrymen "stupid"

you'll be seen as the exception.:eyes:

[hifiguy]

54. I went out of my way not to say "all" people.

But, to quote Dickens, the worst are filled with such a passionate intensity and there are a LOT if them - for the love of dog look at the 12-pack of mouth-breathers, open psychopaths and street-corner lunatics that are in or are considering the Repuke race for the nomination. Calling people "stupid" because they think that a religulously insane pathological liar like Michele Bachmann or Caribou Barbie is actually qualified for any office higher than the sewer commission, much less POTUS is only stating the obvious. Those people are fricking STUPID and will never be convinced to be anything but stupid by any argument based on facts or logic.

And there are people who wear their stupidity with pride - do you not remember the 2000 campaign where the Chimp was marketed as the "regular guy" you would "want to have a beer with" and Gore was derided as an elitist intellectual. Personally I'd rather have the smart person in office, and that the election was close enough for the Repukes to steal was a damning indictment of the intelligence of the american electorate.

And kindly leave your amateur psychology regarding me behind. I have battling clinical depression for the last ten years, have spent five of those years unemployed, and just found out last month that I will be losing half my hours at the job I currently have come July 1. So stick that in your ear.

[whathehell]

59. Given the OP and a qualifyer of "so many"

that doesn't really work.


As far as the Right Wing..Um..yeah..We know that..That's why we're on DU and not Free Republic.

As for your troubles, sorry, but I don't think I can "kindly" do much for you as you're not being "kind" to anyone else


Ten years of clinical depression?....I've battled THIRTY and I'm unemployed as well.

Stick THAT in your ear.

[Walk away]

57. I live in New Jersey and our ignorant electorate cut their own throats....

and signed away their States future by electing a Governor who told us exactly what he was going to do before he was elected. How do you figure that? Who votes away their schools and reduces their fire departments and takes the savings and gives it to millionaires? How stupid do you have to be? Maybe not all Americans are idiots but 50% of the voters are. The non-voters? even worse.

[whathehell]

61. Did your "ignorant electorate" know, as so many others did NOT, how the Repukes

in office were going to decimate the collective baragaining rights, etc.?

[Walk away]

63. Christie RAN on breaking the teacher's union .

He demonized state workers and teachers in order to get elected. The good people of NJ needed a scape goat to blame taxes on and chose their neighbors instead of the millionaires in Bergen County. Smart!

[whathehell]

65. That really sucks....In other news, though...I hear his numbers are WAY down.

[ieoeja]

62. "There is such a thing as too much education."

I must have heard that line a thousand times in my life. And expect to hear it a thousand more.

Nearly 80% of my high school graduation class went on to college. My niece and nephews tell me that considerably less than half their classes did so.

Furthermore, while parents were bragging about their kids going to college when I was in college, parents in that same community today have been known to hang their head in shame when their kid does so today.

[whathehell]

67. I never heard that

and I come from a working class background and did go to college.

Is this a relatively new thing?

I ask because I hear that, now, college is no guarantee of a job

but.."hanging their head in shame" if the kid does decide to go?

What the hell is that about?:shrug:

[stuntcat]

47. yup.

My fellow Americans are showing me very clearly why Humanity is already lost. I'm just glad my years are half over, tic toc tic toc, I'm learning to laugh, not cry :sigh:

[Wounded Bear]

68. Didn't you know?

Idiocracy was a predictive documentary.

:evilgrin:

[BeHereNow]

70. Best post in this entire thread!!! Thanks WB!

I've been reading this thread laughing my ass off-
Your post was the perfect ending to an idiotic discussion.

BHN:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Wounded Bear]

74. Well, frankly, it's kind of scary watching that movie and .....

comparing where we are nowadays.

[BeHereNow]

77. Agreed, but then those who foresee the future...

can prepare for it.

The very fact that Michelle and Sarah can even contemplate office,
and the public accept them as viable candidates, tells me we
are not far off from the movie at all.

Electrolytes for all!

BHN:evilgrin:

[oberliner]

75. Bachamann won't be nominated and can't win

Obama won handily last time and will do so again.

American electorate got it right in 2008 and will get it right in 2012.

[whathehell]

128. Correct.

If Bachmann IS nominated it would be a dream come true

for the rest of us....She would NEVER win the general.

[NYC Liberal]

76. You are part of that electorate, as are almost everyone

here at DU.

I guess most of DU is "lazy and stupid, as a whole," as are all the liberals and progressives throughout the country -- since they, too, are part of the electorate.

[cali]

80. yes, obviously the electorate is a collective tag,

that does not mean that pieces of the collective aren't making good decisions.

[whathehell]

129. Yes it is, and that's why you're OP is both offensive and wrong.

[whathehell]

125. Thank you. n/t

[yawnmaster]

78. Yes, I agree, everyone that doesn't agree with me or see things my way is ignorant or..

plain stupid.
And anyone whose life does not revolve around politics, like me, is plain lazy and not willing to look at facts.

What a broad brush we use sometimes.

[cali]

79. but of course that's not what I said:

and no, I wasn't talking about following politics. One doesn't need to follow politics closely to know that republicans want to destroy interests vital to the working people of this country. And the plain sad fact is that tens of millions vote against their own economic interests when they vote for repubs.

[whathehell]

126. What you said is plain for all to see...

and the American electorate is MORE

than those who "vote against their

own economic interests", those being predominantly republican,

This being the case, why not simply QUALIFY the "electorate" of whom

you speak, instead of insulting us all?:shrug:

[Curmudgeoness]

81. After a Rep voter got the ballot for the Dems in the primary by mistake,

and proceeded to vote and confirmed vote, even after getting the review page, I have decided that voters should at the very least have a test regarding who is on the ballot before they can vote. Bonus points for knowing what their platform is.

[TaupeDem]

83. How is it that such a good post like this is at only +1 recs? EOM

[whathehell]

127. Quite observant. n/t

[timtom]

137. And, by the way, that rec was mine!

[Union Scribe]

84. Ugh.

This broad-brush contempt for the common person is always ugly, but especially so when it pretends to be a liberal position when it's nothing but smug and self-serving egotism at its worst. Your rant is allegedly against right-wing candidates, yet I can imagine any of them sharing your loathing for the American voter.

[whathehell]

122. Well said, Union Scribe..."This broad-brush contempt for the common person is always ugly"

and, as you say, "especially so when it pretends to be a liberal position

when it's nothing but smug and self-serving egotism at it's worst".

[Raine]

87. Oh yeah Americans dumbest people on the planet bla bla bla, this kind of elitism makes me

puke. :puke: :puke: :puke:

[whathehell]

93. Me too....It's

almost enough to make you go to Free Republic.".:puke:

just for the increase in self-esteem.

Contrary to a number of DUers who have

made veiled accusations to the effect

of my being some sort of "troll"

(the above statement will really

get them going, I'm sure)

You really do NOT have to HATE

your own country and denigrate

it's citizens SANS qualifiers

to be "progressive"!

Rinse and repeat.

[ashling]

88. The American electorate is widely infected by proactive ignorance

I see it in my students all the time. Some will walk 20 blocks out of the way to avoid running into a thought.

I don't remember who said it, but Thomas Edison had a bronze plaque on his wall with thi quote:
"There is no expedient a man will not resort to, to avoid the real labor of thinking."

I highly recommend the following by Susan Jacoby: The Age of American Unreason. To quote Jacoby,
"America is now ill with a powerful mutant strain of intertwined ignorance, anti-rationalism, and anti-intellectualism - as opposed to the recognizable cyclical strain of the past - the virulence of the current outbreak is inseperable unmindfulness"

[whathehell]

94. I see it

in my students all the time. Some will walk 20 blocks out of the way to avoid running into a thought".

Ever consider that it might be your teaching?

Just sayin...:evilgrin:

[ashling]

102. That's the way they come in

most leave with an appreciation for critical thinking and informed decision making ...

or of the fact that they are going to have to take the course again!

Just sayin ... :evilgrin:

[whathehell]

104. Than the subject line of your original post is false and wrongly blameful of this country

Most students in most countries come in "ignorant" and leave better off.

Just sayin.:eyes:

[robcon]

89. This thread: dumb as a box of rocks - perhaps the IQ of rocks is above the 'IQ' of this thread!

The American electorate has a 100 IQ on average.

[whathehell]

95. Yup...

"The American electorate has a 100 IQ on average".

Which is roughly the same as every other western country.

[kentuck]

91. I think I will make a new bumper sticker..

Too Dumb To Vote

[timtom]

96. Wotthehell???

I just recommended this and the total recs is at +1!!!

What cali says is the absolute truth! Who the hell here could possibly disagree with this?

I don't get it.

[timtom]

99. Oh, wait. NOW I get it.

Unfortunately, she's still right.

But, that's just my opinion. And I claim that right.

[whathehell]

108. "Absolute truth" is hard to come by, bro...and, um..since most of

are, in fact, "Americans", we sometimes get a bit weary

of seeing ourselves denigrated, especially on

this board which features this kind of

unproductive, elitist shit at least once a week.

I'm American and not "stupid" and I don't really don't care

to be called that...How 'bout you?

The answer lies in one word "Qualify"...duh.

Of course SOME Americans are "stupid", and more

just ill-informed,

but painting 310 MILLION people with that broad ugly

brush is as bigoted and hostile as doing it

to any other nationality.

Rule of Thumb:...You want to call yourself "stupid"? -- fine

Just don't drag the REST of us into it.

[timtom]

115. If you feel that that description fit you

and you took umbrage, then so be it.

I didn't feel as though it applied to me (but, truth to tell, I'm pretty good at parsing ideas and thinking critically.)

[whathehell]

117. Good try...

but clearly, I was asking about you, and let me point out something else..

When you use sweeping generalizations like "Americans are stupid",

it's not the responsibility of the reader to "decide" whether it "fits" them,

it's the responsibility of the poster to QUALIFY the remark.:think:

If I were to post a thread here entitled, "The British (Canadian, Italian, French, etc.)

electorate is Stupid", everyone knows it would be deleted or locked in a New York Minute.

Why the exception regarding broad brush insults against ourselves?

As you can see on this thread, a lot of DUers don't like it

and more and more of us are speaking up.

Do you know what truly IS "stupid"? -- denigrating your own nationality.

You're just shitting on yourself, and while that MIGHT appeal

to certain foreigners or masochistic types, I can't imagine why

it would appeal to anyone else with an ounce of self-respect,

especially since it serves NO useful purpose.

[timtom]

131. You understand we're both stating opinions

and nothing more. But you argue like sophist -- passionate, but not persuasive.

I am reminded of a situation on the old Jack Benny radio show. Jack and Mary Livingstone are in a restaurant. Jack sees a parrot in a cage and goes over to talk to it. The parrot says that Fred Allen is funnier. A debate ensues. Mary says, "Jack! You're arguing with a PARROT!!" Jack says, "I don't care. He started it."

Awwkk. Skrwwwk!

[whathehell]

132. Sorry, but

failure to persuade is no more indicative

of the style of argument than it is

of receptivity to the point.

Thanks for playing.:hi:

[timtom]

133. So, you totally missed the point

about arguing opinions.

Brilliant!

[whathehell]

134. No, dear

you did.

Buh bye.:hi:


Edited to add: The icon above, when coupled

with "goodbye" generally means you're

being put on the poster's ignore list.

Just thought I'd mention is as you

don't seem especially receptive to hints.

[timtom]

135. Shame on you!

You don't understand argumentation and debate, and when you have nothing substantive to say, you bail.

I'm NOT putting you on ignore. That's just childish.

[sakabatou]

98. You're insulting rocks.

[whathehell]

112. Should we take it then, that you are one of the dumb "rocks'?

[Blue_In_AK]

100. Rats.

I tried to recommend your thread but the time had expired. You are absolutely 100% correct (this time. :) )

[whathehell]

120. No,

It's just looks that way in Alaska:P

[Blue_In_AK]

124. I gotta admit there are some dummies up here.

They've drunk too much oil and have polluted their brains.

[ElboRuum]

101. This is a total canard...

Personally, I find these "Americans are fat and lazy" and "wake up sheeple" memes personally offensive, whether it be meant as an attitudinal or intellectual slight, regardless of the purity of the intention.

The American public is not lazy OR stupid. You really want the "pulse of the nation" view? Fine. The people are confronted with the very real fact that they have no real effective voice in government regardless of the correctness of their vote and thus consider political involvement futile. Politics and issues are treated like games in the media and by the politicians they elect and it really doesn't seem to matter who they are, what they purport to stand for, so long as it is their "side" that wins. And choosing a side and winning seems to be a hell of a lot easier than choosing an issue and/or a philosophy and seeing your end through, especially with the serial non-compliance of elected officials as to their responsibility to represent their electorate faithfully in their best interests, whether they donated to their campaigns or not, whether they voted for them or not. Modern electoral politics, boiled down, amounts to two/four/six emotionally painful years for the losers and nothing of anything more substantial or consequential than bragging rights for the winners, no matter what "side" wins.

So please explain where the stupidity exists. Is the stupidity in realizing the very real truth of our political system that the policy follows the money, and people like you, me, and the rest of these Americans you'd call lazy, stupid, dumb as a box of rocks, don't have enough of it for their opinions to matter one whit in the halls of our government? Or is it in making the choice not to become a keyboard warrior for great justice, instead, choosing to use what little energy still exists in their worn bodies and tired minds to allow themselves a few minutes in front of the idiot box watching the vapidity of American Idol; this just to ease, temporarily, if only for a few minutes, the pain of the realization that their lives are difficult, their choices they used to know are no longer theirs, and their futures are uncertain in outcome but certainly bleak.

I'm sure people like this would be none too pleased to know that someone, with what appears to be a healthy lack of respect for his/her countrymen, thinks of them as immobile, Cheeto-stuffing, couch-potato morons (on the whole). But fear not, they probably don't have any energy left to care. I mean, if they don't have the energy left to google "the real truth absolutely and without question", what energy could they possibly have to concern themselves that a disembodied voice on the internet called them a big, fat, stupidhead.

Now why would someone make such an assertion in the first place? Well at least that would be the first question on my mind, given the fact that I'm sure that your "on the whole" would, if deemed necessary for understanding, be quickly qualified by "DU company excepted" and thus makes the choice of venue for such an assertion curious, missing the intended targets of said assertion by several miles. My theory of this state of affairs is that this is probably due to the fact that this group is a small minority of the population being catered to by much of the neocon owned media, thereby giving the impression of their numbers being much greater than they really are. Hope you're not falling for it.

Don't mind me, I must just be caught up in the meta-narrative, co-opted by AAFLS propaganda (Association for the Advancement of the Fat, Lazy, and Stupid).

[hay rick]

103. Is it just me...

or does every post about our ill-informed, inattentive, and none-too-bright electorate include a reference to American Idol?

[spanone]

109. most of them are too busy trying to live.

[TheKentuckian]

110. The electorate has no capability of making a good choice, there are two competing versions

of a worse future.

Competing versions of imperialism.

Competing versions of the police state.

Competing versions of corporate rule.

Competing versions of private health insurance scams.

Competing versions of education deform.

Competing versions of union busting.

Competing versions of dismantling our civil liberties.

The competition being largely rhetorical makes the choice less impactive and clear.

The steering leadership in both parties are Koch whores be it the Turd Way in our party our the CoC in the TeaPubliKlan party.

The truly stupid things are buying the official state secular religion, not pulling the Wall Street fraudsters out of their offices and inflicting street justice on them, and falling for the good cop/bad cop scam regardless of who one sees as the "good cop", and paying any mind to the corporate propaganda we refer to as the news.

[John Paul Jones]

111. The American Electorate: Insane

Americans have collectively abdicated their civic responsibility and allowed themselves to be betrayed by an assemblage of self-serving gangsters who promise to take care of them and give them stuff.

Time and again, they have taken the power from one political party and given it to the other. They have heard the winners hail a "new era," and losers warn us of the impending "disaster." But a funny thing happened along the way--nothing ever changes.

Even so, they keep voting for the same thing, convinced that it will bring different results.

[whathehell]

113. Another Broad Brush Smear...Let me ask you something, Are you a part of that "insane" electorate?

If you're not, why not try a nice cup of

Shut the Fuck up?B-)

[John Paul Jones]

114. No thanks, I prefer Kona...

You should give it a try...it's very mood enhancing...:hi:

[whathehell]

118. But you didn't answer my question...

[whathehell]

123. And what is your experience, pray tell,

with "Americans"?

[whathehell]

130. Oh gee...

You were so cocksure, so opinionated

about the America you've probably never

even set foot in, but now you're not

brave (or proud?)enough

to tell us what bright and shining

"electorate" you vote with?:rofl:

[John Paul Jones]

136. Why Sir, I vote with the American electorate.

Unfortunately, they hardly ever agree with me. In fact, Obama was the first presidential candidate that I ever voted for who was elected.

[Zax2me]

116. Did you say this after Obama was elected and Dems swept?

Hmm?

[whathehell]

121. No. This is the "five minutes hate" segment brought to you by

the elitists, e.g. "If I say Americans are dumb, I distinguish

myself as "smart", the self-loathers and

a few foreigners, perhaps.

[whathehell]

119. If you really believe Bachman could be elected

Then frankly, you may be part of the "problem" you perceive.

Bachman could NEVER be elected...Forget the Dems,

she'd never pass with the Independents.

Even Palin, at the height of her popularity got a seventy five percent

negative rating on her eligibility for the presidency, and that was

from Republicans.