But I was wrong for a whole host of other reasons regarding my use of the word "Cult" to describe the current form of the GOP. For example, being in a cult implies small numbers. That's not true at all. The conservative movement is quite large and, more or less, dictates the policy of this country. This happens when they are in power or not. Why? Because the Democrats are, for the most part, incompetent when it comes to dealing with them.
Give the Dems a break, though, because there's not much they can do.Because when it comes to the conservative base of this country, one has to take into account that they are true believers. Essentially, the only thing cult like about them is summed up simply in one word: Faith. And, man oh man, do they have it in abundance. As Kevin Smith wisely wrote, "You can change an idea but you can't change a belief."
On the surface, you notice this right away. Their perceptual framework sees everyone as being true believers. I, along with many liberals/Democrats/progressives, are accused daily of having religious fervor when it comes to our ideology. I am constantly taken aback by this because nothing could be further from the truth. I'm certain that nearly everyone else on the left is as well. I have my ideas regarding religion and morality but beliefs? Nope. Beliefs about politics? Economics? Sociology? Psychology? History?
Nope. No beliefs. I deal with what actually happened and what actually works. Aside from a few micro examples here and there, none of the ideas that conservatives offer have ever worked. Nearly all of them have actually made things worse in our country on a number of levels. It's why we are at the position we are in today. The true belief of deregulation...the true belief of realism in the international arena...the true belief of
All this has dawned on me over the course of the last six years that I have been friendly with an evangelical minister at the gym where I work out. I've written about him before. He takes his religious beliefs and uses that framework as his basis for politics. Michelle Bachmann, for example, is his choice for president in 2012. Why? Because like him he is a believer and she can be trusted. Never mind that she is completely incapable of being president. She believes and that's all that is needed. Yet, look at the Democrats. You won't catch the Democrats rallying behind Dennis Kucinich or Hank Johnson any time soon.
Another way to notice what I am talking about is how the true believers on the right react to political discussions. I make it a point to not attack people personally yet they take everything personally. Why? It's their faith and they are clearly insecure about it. What other reason would they have for insisting upon the fact that they are right about everything? So, they respond in kind with personal attacks because their faith is weak. I've seen many insults directed towards me on this blog and during my time over at Kevin's blog. As time has gone on, these attacks bother me less and less. Some of you have wondered politely if I like being abused. Not true at all. It's because I don't have a true believer mind set so the personal doesn't really enter into it.
Likely, the right will never get this. I know that the chances of changing their perception on this are about as likely as a conservative admitting that tax cuts for the wealthy don't work. But true believers it is, folks, and not a cult. We see it in how they look at the Constitution, the Bible, the ever increasing control of power and money in this country by the wealthy, the focused effort to strip average Americans of power, economics, cultural diversity, education, climate change, and health care. Check out any of Bill Whittle's videos (links of which have been posted lately in comments) for excellent illustrations how true believers practice their faith.
All of this is deeply frustrating to me because their beliefs put them on the wrong side of most issues...fighting angrily against what would actually benefit them in the long run and give them more freedom. Even saying something like this evokes shrieks and howls of protests. How dare I know what is best for them? How dare I this...how dare I that....blah blah blah...all of these protestations are also illustrative of how ingrained their belief is and how insecure they are about it.
As I have said recently, managing the fantasies of the true believers is a waste of time. I'm more or less finished with it. I'm hoping that other people in the country--either in the media or ordinary citizens like me--cease paying attention to people who think, for example, that is absolutely nothing wrong with less people having more and more money every day. You're not going to see me coddling the worship of CEOs any longer, pampering the auto debunk of climate change skeptics, and gently reminding people that the Democratic Party won't lead us to this:
Paranoid Fantasy. Absolute Lie.
True believers, get some fucking ideas...new ones would be nice...and lose the back and forth between 8 year old boy temper tantrums and adolescent power fantasies. Start being part of the solution and cease being part of the problem. I know it's a lot to ask but you are going to have to change your beliefs. Not only have they damaged, are damaging, and will damage this country but they are holding us back from taking an action vital to our future.
Moving Forward.
11 comments:
Their beliefs hold them back from achieving any sort of elevated intellectual level.
Good times, good times. You can always count on Mark to pop out a "damn, I'm awesome" post every couple of weeks.
>I, along with many liberals/Democrats/progressives, are accused daily of having religious fervor when it comes to our ideology.
Wrong. At least on this site. You are accused of having a religious ideology because when confronted with confounding facts or confounding reason or questions you can't seem to answer, you don't modify your claims or your reasoning to comport with the problems in your claims or reasoning. You simply press on, acting like nothing has happened. In other words, you have faith in your worldview, even if, from my side of the fence, it is full of glaring holes. Now, you obviously don't think they are holes, but you can expect nothing but laughter from me when you make claims like this:
>I have my ideas regarding religion and morality but beliefs? Nope.
or this:
>I deal with what actually happened and what actually works.
Sorry, but you're dreaming. Let us know when you figure out how corporations can force you to do things without the government's help, and in the rare case that a corporation is able to do something like that, faces no consequences.
>So, they respond in kind with personal attacks because their faith is weak.
A pleasing theory, no doubt. Alternate theory: you get a lot of personal bile because people get so incredibly sick of your "ignore stuff I don't like, puts words into your mouth from Rush Limbaugh/Sarah Palin/villian du jour, you're just trying to win the argument" style of non-argumentation.
>How dare I know what is best for them?
Er.. Because you don't know, you're just arrogant enough to think you know? Really, it's not hard to figure out.
>I'm hoping that other people in the country--either in the media or ordinary citizens like me--cease paying attention to people who think, for example, that is absolutely nothing wrong with less people having more and more money every day.
I'll be happy to concerned about less people having more and more money, just as soon as you can explain why that is a bad thing. In fact, I have a very simple question for you. Bill Gates. I think most of us can agree that he's made a lot of money in his life. Even you. Now, the question: as Gates got richer, did other people have to get poorer in order for him to get richer? Put another way - if Gates nets 500 million in one year, did other people have to get 500 million poorer for him to do that? Why or why not? (This is, btw, a question you have refused to answer, in various forms, for at least a year now, and your refusal to answer is one among several reasons that I just can't take you seriously when you put up posts like this. Glass houses and all that.)
>new ones would be nice
One of my thoughts on this subject is that there really aren't any "new ideas" when it comes to running government. There's really just variation on the same old thing - how can we extract the most money from the economy, and what ways can we spend it. You don't tend to ask about those underlying assumptions - is it good to extract money from the economy? Is the government good at spending it?
>I know it's a lot to ask but you are going to have to change your beliefs.
You first Mark, you first.
>Their beliefs hold them back from achieving any sort of elevated intellectual level.
This can't be a serious, earnest comment. Can it?
Wow, M is doublespeak incarnate!
I've been waiting for a post like this. Well said, Mark. This is why we hear all the drivel from the right about how the left are really the true believers. It's a con-the long con. Insecurity, indeed, hence the three quick posts from Haplo9.
Until we get rid of the irrational fear that people have, I don't think we are going to get anywhere. Have you checked out Glassner's updated Culture of Fear yet? That's where much of this poppycock comes from.
Or as M is also so fond of saying "attacking with his own greatest weakness".
Very funny and very well played - for unintentional self parody that is.
Their beliefs hold them back from achieving any sort of elevated intellectual level.
Ah the smell of hubris - so ironic coming from one so lacking.
Nothing like being challenged on intellectual shortcomings from a mental midget at the pulpit of Leftboro Baptist.
Until we get rid of the irrational fear that people have
Like Corporate Force for example? The fear of the wealthy forcing you to do their bidding, enslaving you? Those would be some excellent irrational fears to lose.
You avoid attacking people personally? Like calling people racist at parties you are invited to?
You're not finished managing fantasies...you may then have to talk about what Obama has been doing, and you certainly aren't doing that anymore.
Stay on offense, avoid playing defense.
Nothing like beating up on straw-men of your own invention, is there, Mark? Actually, I strongly suspect the tale about your neighbor is if not wholly invented, then at least very healthily embellished. Unless, of course, he's just having you on because you're such a twit.
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