[lbo-talk] Educated Ignoramus

Mike Ballard swillsqueal at yahoo.com.au
Wed Apr 2 20:34:07 PDT 2008


Paul Papadeas recalled:

Well, my VP mentioned Obama and said that he would never get the vote because he is a Socialist!! and believes in "redistribution of income" - according to him a very dangerous word.

********************************* I've often wondered why those in the grip of right-wing ideology called the Clintons "Communists". I remember seeing a bumper sticker with Clinton and hammer and sickle. I guess to these minds, Obama would be the "lesser of two evils" as he is only a Socialist. ;p

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For example: I asked my VP - why does he think people leave Mexico? He responded, "Because its a shithole and those people can't do anything right. They come to this country and work illegally, we pay taxes for services they take advantage of, and then send the money back to their families in their respective countries." I thought of going into American Imperialism - but instead chose the politically correct response of comparing the social system in Europe - where there is a wealth tax and a bit more parity. Of course, he responded that the Europeans, "are the worst colonialists" and after hundreds of years of war they probably got tired of everything." Basically, he states that they are different than us and that Americans should either WORK or DIE. Or, he mentioned (jokingly) that the Civil Liberties nuts should let the government kill gangmembers (MS-80) who murder people immediately without due process.

My jaw literally dropped to the ground. He admits imperialism as a normal fact of life - and probably wouldn't mind the US colonizing the "minorities" of the world, as long as it means more money in his paycheck for his family's spending habits.

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This kind of thinking springs from the "law of the jungle" social-Darwinist school. It's pretty much the normal pattern-think which emanates from "reality" TV show programming and much of what passes for political commentary from talking media heads. It also mirrors other extreme right tendencies historically. It essentially boils down to "the strong dominate the weak and that's the way reality works, so shut up you softies and liberals, 'cause you're not being realistic." It's part and parcel of the ruling ideas of our time, "ever the ideas of the ruling class." As with all conservative ideologies, these rationalizations make those who are enjoying wealth and power in the here and now, comfortable with their places in the hierarchies of the societies in which they live and prosper. As for the Others....well, they can just pull themselves up by their bootstraps and stay away from my toys.

When you try to tell these people something more sophisticated than this pre-digested pablum, they become very dismissive.......unless you can get them drunk enough to let down their cognitive dissonance...then, you can get them to agree to insights. But, as soon as the next day comes around, they retreat into a kind of militan ignorance.

Mike B)

This is the consensus attitude that embodies America's corporate class?

http://www.iww.org.au/node/10 "Would you have freedom from wage-slavery.." Joe Hill http://www.iww.org/en/join

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