First of all, I am going to say that this Study (and what I am about to say later) refers to American Conservatives, not groups like the Tories or the Canadian Conservative Party or other conservatives groupes in other countries.
That being said: I am going to have to say that the study is probably accurate, at least as far as the US goes. The reason I say this is because in general liberals are better educated than conservatives. That is not to say that smart, well educated, conservatives dont exsist or there is no such thing as a stupid liberal. But on the whole, liberals are simply better educated. Education is a key measure of intelligence.
If you look at university, most college professors are liberals. This study stated that 72% of college professors were liberals vs 15% who were conservative. But people 25-34 tend to be Liberal as well, meaning those coming out of college these days are going to tilt more to the left.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8427-2005Mar28.html
You pick a modern-day issue (other than the 4Gs) like healthcare reform, taxes, or foreign policy and the ignorence shown can be just breathtaking. Even here at milforum its shocking how ignorant conservatives are on just the basic facts. Asked what does the bill include: Answer: Socialism or Death Panals are the most common responses. Sorry thats the response of a illiterate 7th grader. Only a few would mention Insurence industry reform, or be specific and say remove of anti-trust exemption, the dropping of patients with prior conditions, or that it extends coverage to 30 Million new people, or the ability to buy insurence out of state. Be honest, how many conservatives would mention any of the following as a response. Very few.
Or "the Tea Party". How many of them really know anything about taxes or how the government spends it money? Most actually believe that you can cut taxes without reducing fundimental services. I mean this is out of fantasyland. Did they actually watch what happened when Jim Bunning filibustered the extension of unemployment benefits? The checks stopped flowing. Its that simple. As if they think can get something in society without actually paying for it.
I dont mean that as an insult, but its a personal observation. People who know something about a subject can tell when the person they are addressing doesnt have a clue of what they are talking about.
A common example that drives me crazy is that some conservatives insist repeatively stated that terrorism is the greatest menace this country has faced. Oh Really??? Greater than the Nazis? Greater than the Soviet Union? Greater than the Redcoats or the Confederates? Not even by a longshot. There is more to be worried about an an outbreak of malaria.
And look at who conservatives prefer as Politicans. George W Bush, Dan Quayle, Sarah Palin to name a few. I challenge anyone to defend any of these people as "deep thinkers". Sarah Palin couldnt even think hard enough to lie about what books she read. George Bush when he was running for President couldnt name the president of Pakistan one of our biggest ally in SE Asia.
Mind you, most conservatives wont even deny that the people they admire are not the sharpest tools out there. Conservatives simply put a greater emphesis on their views of character and morality than actual intelligence.
Thats their choice, but by doing so the label of being "stupid" goes with it.
There are smart conservatives. (I like journalist David Brooks, William Kristol is another). I while I despise Dick Cheney hes didnt become VP by being an idiot.
But the intelligence of base itself (not individuals) is regressing to a point where this highly ideological ractionary group of people can only talk about the four "Gs" Gays, Guns, God, Government (how much they hate it) with any degree of comfort.
Conservatives have been waging a war on Intellectualism (what they call Elitists) for a few years now, as if being smart was a bad thing. You even have politicans like Bush and Palin happily admitting that they dont read. It is impossible to say one is intelligent yet actively refuse to expand your mind. Ignorence doesnt lead to intelligence. They are polar opposites.
But the worst is Science. How can you claim to be intellectual and deny global warming and other enviromental issues, refute evolution, and refer all of lifes deeper questions to spiritualiality and mysticism? Its like believing babies are delivered by the Stork. Look at James Inhofe R-OK, if the European stereotype that all Americans are stupid was true, James Inhofe would be its posterboy.
I take no pleasure in saying this, I think its very dangerous for a nation to be so anti-intellectual and its why the Asians and Europeans are beginning to surpass us in many things...and are laughing at us while doing it.
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