Repubs and the Ind. Mandate: Politics (of all) as Usual
whygohome
Posts: 2,305
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012 ... z1yBhgerS0
It's a long read--7.5 pages in Word--so I did not copy and paste.
Feel free to copy and paste highlights though. Here is my favorite part,one that essentially debunks any argument that humanity can ever form an intelligent society...
"Jonathan Haidt, a professor of psychology at New York University’s business school, argues in a new book, “The Righteous Mind,” that to understand human beings, and their politics, you need to understand that we are descended from ancestors who would not have survived if they hadn’t been very good at belonging to groups. He writes that “our minds contain a variety of mental mechanisms that make us adept at promoting our group’s interests, in competition with other groups. We are not saints, but we are sometimes good team players.”
One of those mechanisms is figuring out how to believe what the group believes. Haidt sees the role that reason plays as akin to the job of the White House press secretary. He writes, “No matter how bad the policy, the secretary will find some way to praise or defend it. Sometimes you’ll hear an awkward pause as the secretary searches for the right words, but what you’ll never hear is: ‘Hey, that’s a great point! Maybe we should rethink this policy.’ Press secretaries can’t say that because they have no power to make or revise policy. They’re told what the policy is, and their job is to find evidence and arguments that will justify the policy to the public.” For that reason, Haidt told me, “once group loyalties are engaged, you can’t change people’s minds by utterly refuting their arguments. Thinking is mostly just rationalization, mostly just a search for supporting evidence.”
Psychologists have a term for this: “motivated reasoning,” which Dan Kahan, a professor of law and psychology at Yale, defines as “when a person is conforming their assessments of information to some interest or goal that is independent of accuracy”—an interest or goal such as remaining a well-regarded member of his political party, or winning the next election, or even just winning an argument. "
It's a long read--7.5 pages in Word--so I did not copy and paste.
Feel free to copy and paste highlights though. Here is my favorite part,one that essentially debunks any argument that humanity can ever form an intelligent society...
"Jonathan Haidt, a professor of psychology at New York University’s business school, argues in a new book, “The Righteous Mind,” that to understand human beings, and their politics, you need to understand that we are descended from ancestors who would not have survived if they hadn’t been very good at belonging to groups. He writes that “our minds contain a variety of mental mechanisms that make us adept at promoting our group’s interests, in competition with other groups. We are not saints, but we are sometimes good team players.”
One of those mechanisms is figuring out how to believe what the group believes. Haidt sees the role that reason plays as akin to the job of the White House press secretary. He writes, “No matter how bad the policy, the secretary will find some way to praise or defend it. Sometimes you’ll hear an awkward pause as the secretary searches for the right words, but what you’ll never hear is: ‘Hey, that’s a great point! Maybe we should rethink this policy.’ Press secretaries can’t say that because they have no power to make or revise policy. They’re told what the policy is, and their job is to find evidence and arguments that will justify the policy to the public.” For that reason, Haidt told me, “once group loyalties are engaged, you can’t change people’s minds by utterly refuting their arguments. Thinking is mostly just rationalization, mostly just a search for supporting evidence.”
Psychologists have a term for this: “motivated reasoning,” which Dan Kahan, a professor of law and psychology at Yale, defines as “when a person is conforming their assessments of information to some interest or goal that is independent of accuracy”—an interest or goal such as remaining a well-regarded member of his political party, or winning the next election, or even just winning an argument. "
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
:roll:
can't let the black guy get any credit for anything...
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
Why are libs so obsessed with color? Was that a necessary part of your opinion? It couldn't just be - let the liberal/democrat guy...?
Kind of funny which side is obsessed with race.
:corn:
I see what you did there.
How is it funny/a surprise to anyone that political parties/members switch positions?
The famous quote, "I was for it before I was against it" comes to mind.
Pretty cool article though. I was expecting some sort of hit piece and I didn't get that from it at all. Thanks
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
it as if they are sitting back and smiling saying, "yes you get to hold the white house for a term, but we, the old angry white men promise you right now that you will get nothing done, boy."
their actions and their words have made that quite clear.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
The republicans were in full-scale freakout mode after 2008. They got clobbered and lost states that they never ever lose. The dems had all the momentum.
Now which of the above two scenarios would cause the GOP to form a well-devised strategy to limit Obama's success? Because he is a black dude? Or because they realized that their power was eroding and without fighting back they were in serious danger of becoming a national party minority?
You honestly believe that the republicans in the senate and house oppose Obama's policies based on his skin color? it has nothing to do with finding a piece in a giant bill they feel can undo it? But I suppose they wouldn't be looking for that if he was white...it isn't like they were petty with the last democratic president at all
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
In my experience folks foist on others the way THEY would act themselves. Cynicism is one thing. Making insane accusations usually comes from within.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
I chalk it up as a Trump-card (pun intended) to deflect and explain failed policy.
So what is 95% of one race voting for one particular person in an election?
republicans hate minorities...just ask all the democrats they will tell you.
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
good eye, Mike...
I do find it interesting that folks that are now against the mandate won't address the fact that repubs were the ones who created the idea...
You can feel anyway you wan't to , to me it has allways felt like that from day 1 he has been treated like a 2nd hand citizen ......You tell me has be been treated like anyother previous president ....
their v-jj...
for those who think that race as absolutely no factor in the blanket resistance to O-bama's agenda...how can you be 100% sure...?
The GOP is taking orders, rank and file, from strong leadership. It's about power (and of course, corruption).
I don't think i need to ask anyone about who hates minorities ....
k.
I find it funny that the very thing discussed in this article is happening in this thread
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/02/18/m ... ecedented/
that hate was ok...is that because he was white? Calling him a nazi from time to time was ok? Calling him stupid and an idiot was not disrespectful? apparently because that criticism was assumed to be based on something other than color. Since all the criticisms of this president are unwarranted because he hasn't done anything to deserve any criticism they must be about his race.
People are certainly selectively remembering the 90's that is for sure.
Here is some criticism based on race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcfPat03lk4
I loved starting at 2:40
Please go back and read some of the stuff there was about Clinton. The same amount of hate for Bill Clinton by GOPers is still there to this day by the way. They hate him.
But I am white so I am in denial
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
Ok. You want to know who hates people based on race? I will tell you...idiots. And the GOP doesn't have a monopoly on those.
There are lots of them in this world, of all creeds and colors...But if want to pretend the only racists are on the GOP side, and that the only reason this president is criticized is motivated by race go ahead, I won't stop you. I would just implore you to contemplate for a moment that they aren't. How would these criticisms look if they were based on only policy not race?
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
big oil?
nra?
wall street?
koch brothers?
they are bankrolling the antiobama agenda. and if a republican goes against what these people want, they get no financial support and they lose their seat. it is that easy.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
I never said it was no factor, just fighting the idea that it is the major one. There are plenty of racists who hate President Obama on skin color alone....I just don't believe they are in the house or the senate.
Jason P is definitely on the right track. The republicans have always been better at being the minority(is that irony?) in the legislature. they are more organized and more single minded, for better or worse, when it comes to national politics.
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
back on topic, I agree. it is childish of the GOP to pretend like it was created by Obama. It is even worse that the Heritage foundation hasn't defended it. Pretty telling of how ridiculous party politics can be...it is sad that this is what we have chosen as the best way to rule a republic...
We aren't oppressed and are free to choose whoever we want as our leaders...I mean...we get two choices all those dictatorships get one. : :fp:
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
TESTIFY!
:wave: