It has been hard for me over the past several weeks, trying to come to terms with serious cognitive dissonance. For those of you unfamiliar with this symptom, it is a condition of "a discomfort caused by holding conflicting cognitions simultaneously". It means my appreciation of one thing, causes a contrary feeling that it must be wrong.
So when Pat Robertson who is basically the embodiment of religious fruitcake-dom comes out in favor of legalizing marijuana, I am at a loss for words and lie awake nights worrying about liking him.
As many of my readers understand, I have issues with religious "leaders" who want to inflict their deranged ideas on us. Yes, we progressive types know they are nut cases, but so many others don't! I think the whole Roman Catholic Church leadership is ready for commitment to some sort of asylum, but amazingly some people still listen to what its leadership has to say. And never mind the hypocrisy.
So for many years, I have been able to dismiss Pat Robertson with his insane comments on Haitian dealings with the devil, tornado victims not praying enough, or knowing who God will pick in the US Presidential election (but not telling us). He is clearly barking mad, bat s**t crazy as some would say.
But then he comes out in support of legalizing marijuana, not because he is a pothead (heaven forbid), but for the essentially progressive reasons of reducing prison populations and not incarcerating people for non-violent crimes. I mean... this has even been discussed in the notoriously liberal Atlantic Magazine!
What am I to think! On the one hand Pat Robertson is so clearly in profound need of some sort of medication, but on the other he spouts something that is so totally coherent and reasonable. It reminds me of a story my father told me many years ago. It probably is apocryphal, but he did work as a doctor at a "mental institution" (he met my mother there), so it is plausibly true.
The story goes like this.
A car has a flat tire outside the mental institution where my father worked. The driver gets out and, cursing all the while in frustration, begins to change the tire. He removes all the lug nuts and puts them into the hub cap behind him in the street while he struggles with the heavy tire. While he is removing the tire, another car comes breezing past and just nicks the edge of his hubcap, sending the lug nuts spinning off into the drainage ditch or wherever, unrecoverable.
The driver stands up and presses his hands to his face in frustration.
Then from behind the barred windows of the asylum, a man in hospital garb calls down to him, "Hey! You at the car!"
The driver looks up. The man behind the bars looks ominous. "What do YOU want?!" He exclaims in exasperation. "Can't you see I am in trouble here?!" He is on the verge of tears.
The man behind the bars says calmly, "Why don't you take one lug nut off each of the other 3 wheels and attach your spare tire with them? That would be good enough to get you to a gas station or service garage."
The driver is incredulous. "Oh... you're right! Oh my, I can do that! What a great idea! Thank you so much!"
The man behind the bars responds, "I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid."
Maybe that is what is happening with Pat Robertson?
Showing posts with label Republicans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Republicans. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Conservative? There's a pill for that now.
Progressives like me have often stood back in awed incredulity at some things conservatives say they believe: the Earth was created 6000 years ago, guns at home will protect you from the government, a second-class status for women is God's will, President Obama is not an American, on and on. When I say "conservative" here, I am not talking about conservatives like President Eisenhower or even Ronald Reagan. I am talking about the gay-hating, gun-toting, racist, tea party, misogynist, creation-thumping conservatives. You know the ones – the "bottom line" supporters of Rick Santorum.
For so long, we thought that this was an enlightenment problem; they just needed to be dragged out of the 12th century and into the modern world by education, and all would be OK.
How wrong we were.
Even a four-year, college education only helps 62% of them, according to Rick Santorum; it didn't cure him, obviously.
Recent research conducted by Dr. Gordon Hodson, a professor of psychology, shows that conservatives have fearful ideologies, "because such ideologies feature 'structure and order' that make it easier to comprehend a complicated world. Unfortunately, many of these features can also contribute to prejudice."
Moreover, it seems that conservatives' very brains are different. Other research done in the UK points up the fact that conservatives have larger centers of the brain associated with fear. The researchers caution that whether this is a cause or an effect is not clear. Indeed, being "born again", an experience shared by many turbo-conservatives has been linked to atrophy of the hippocampus, the "part of the brain critical to learning and memory".
Then comes along this study done at Oxford University, no less, which seems to show that racist and probably other "fearful" conditions can be treated by a common medication for heart disease. Racism and sexism have already been linked to certain personality disorders associated with other conservative views, so it might well be that a whole array of conservative symptoms might be a part of a bigger but treatable condition.
Clearly we need to stop thinking of conservatism as something that more time in the classroom will ameliorate but rather as a mental health issue. Medications like those mentioned above need to be developed so that they specifically target the fears of right wingers. This way doctors can prescribe a pill to cure someone of – say – an irrational fear that President Obama is a Muslim, or that gay marriages somehow affect straight life. Maybe – with luck – a pill could even be developed to cure creationism and other extreme Old Testamentarian views!
Of course, getting these cantankerous people to take their medications for their own good (and ours) might be difficult, but a doctor's orders will carry a lot of weight. Since conservatism is so clearly a mental disorder, it should be included in the DSM IV, so that these palliative medications can be prescribed as a part of a health insurance plan. I certainly would not have a moral objection to THESE pills being covered by health insurance.
For so long, we thought that this was an enlightenment problem; they just needed to be dragged out of the 12th century and into the modern world by education, and all would be OK.
How wrong we were.
Even a four-year, college education only helps 62% of them, according to Rick Santorum; it didn't cure him, obviously.
Recent research conducted by Dr. Gordon Hodson, a professor of psychology, shows that conservatives have fearful ideologies, "because such ideologies feature 'structure and order' that make it easier to comprehend a complicated world. Unfortunately, many of these features can also contribute to prejudice."
Moreover, it seems that conservatives' very brains are different. Other research done in the UK points up the fact that conservatives have larger centers of the brain associated with fear. The researchers caution that whether this is a cause or an effect is not clear. Indeed, being "born again", an experience shared by many turbo-conservatives has been linked to atrophy of the hippocampus, the "part of the brain critical to learning and memory".
Then comes along this study done at Oxford University, no less, which seems to show that racist and probably other "fearful" conditions can be treated by a common medication for heart disease. Racism and sexism have already been linked to certain personality disorders associated with other conservative views, so it might well be that a whole array of conservative symptoms might be a part of a bigger but treatable condition.
Clearly we need to stop thinking of conservatism as something that more time in the classroom will ameliorate but rather as a mental health issue. Medications like those mentioned above need to be developed so that they specifically target the fears of right wingers. This way doctors can prescribe a pill to cure someone of – say – an irrational fear that President Obama is a Muslim, or that gay marriages somehow affect straight life. Maybe – with luck – a pill could even be developed to cure creationism and other extreme Old Testamentarian views!
Of course, getting these cantankerous people to take their medications for their own good (and ours) might be difficult, but a doctor's orders will carry a lot of weight. Since conservatism is so clearly a mental disorder, it should be included in the DSM IV, so that these palliative medications can be prescribed as a part of a health insurance plan. I certainly would not have a moral objection to THESE pills being covered by health insurance.
Monday, November 14, 2011
In God We Trust
It's official. Most of the Republican candidates for the Presidency claim to have been called by God to step up and run for office. Herman Cain is the latest of the group chosen by God to make the chase for the highest office in the land, but Michelle Bachman, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum (whose name has become part of the urban dictionary) have also heard the call from heaven.
Naturally, I was curious about why God would call so many of them to campaign for office. I needed to find out why, but how?
Obviously prayer, the kind of sustained effort employed by Herman Cain, would be one way to find out what is behind God's apparent shotgun approach to Republican opposition. Unfortunately, however, I have not prayed since I was a very small boy, and even then I was not all that convinced that my requests for a pair of soccer boots were making much headway, so some other way would be required.
The power of deductive reasoning!
Now here is a technique I might be good at. I am well educated and of average intelligence, surely I could apply my God-given brain power to this issue and arrive – like Sherlock Holmes – at an answer. To quote the great detective, "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
So, we must first eliminate the impossible.
One cannot doubt the sincerity of the Republican field in their claims of being called by God. They all must have heard "something", and the still, small voices in their hearts were not telling them to "go ahead... eat the fruit of knowledge!" There is no evidence of knowledge-fruit eating among them. No, the voices were telling them to run for office, the highest office in the land.
So in conclusion, they all did receive the call. It must be true.
If there is no question of veracity on the part of the receivers, then, we must consider the sending end of the conversation. Why would God call on four Republicans to run for office? After all, in the Bible, God only called on one Job, one Noah and one Moses to save his chosen people from lack of faith, flood, and the Egyptians. There must be some reason that we can deduce from the evidence at hand.
Would an all-knowing God need to "cover his bases", so to speak, by fielding an array of candidates in case one of them proved unworthy?
Impossible.
Would an omnipotent God call so many so that the best among them would rise to the top?
Never happened before. And what about Romney?
Could a creator God be trying to muddy the Republican field (have you EVER seen so many people "debating" before?) to sow confusion in the opposition ranks?
Bingo!
With the impossible eliminated, the improbable rises like sweet cream to the surface.
God is a Democrat.
Naturally, I was curious about why God would call so many of them to campaign for office. I needed to find out why, but how?
Obviously prayer, the kind of sustained effort employed by Herman Cain, would be one way to find out what is behind God's apparent shotgun approach to Republican opposition. Unfortunately, however, I have not prayed since I was a very small boy, and even then I was not all that convinced that my requests for a pair of soccer boots were making much headway, so some other way would be required.
The power of deductive reasoning!
Now here is a technique I might be good at. I am well educated and of average intelligence, surely I could apply my God-given brain power to this issue and arrive – like Sherlock Holmes – at an answer. To quote the great detective, "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
So, we must first eliminate the impossible.
One cannot doubt the sincerity of the Republican field in their claims of being called by God. They all must have heard "something", and the still, small voices in their hearts were not telling them to "go ahead... eat the fruit of knowledge!" There is no evidence of knowledge-fruit eating among them. No, the voices were telling them to run for office, the highest office in the land.
So in conclusion, they all did receive the call. It must be true.
If there is no question of veracity on the part of the receivers, then, we must consider the sending end of the conversation. Why would God call on four Republicans to run for office? After all, in the Bible, God only called on one Job, one Noah and one Moses to save his chosen people from lack of faith, flood, and the Egyptians. There must be some reason that we can deduce from the evidence at hand.
Would an all-knowing God need to "cover his bases", so to speak, by fielding an array of candidates in case one of them proved unworthy?
Impossible.
Would an omnipotent God call so many so that the best among them would rise to the top?
Never happened before. And what about Romney?
Could a creator God be trying to muddy the Republican field (have you EVER seen so many people "debating" before?) to sow confusion in the opposition ranks?
Bingo!
With the impossible eliminated, the improbable rises like sweet cream to the surface.
God is a Democrat.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Donald Trump for Republican Nominee
I have decided to take an early and dramatic step and come out and endorse someone to be a Presidential candidate in 2012. I would like to stand four-square and up-front for Donald Du... no, Donald Trump to run as a Republican for President in 2012.
He has proven his mettle by standing up to President Obama and calling for the "long form birth certificate" which proved beyond any doubt that Obama was born in Hawaii which, apparently, was not a part of Indonesia or Kenya at the time. (It wouldn't hurt to get the long form of Hawaii's birth certificate to make sure of that.)
He has demonstrated a strong commitment to international engagement by suggesting the US simply "take Iraqi and Libyan oil". I, for one, cannot believe we haven't done that sooner. When "W" was President, he tried his best, but it didn't turn out the way he had "planned". The Republicans need Trump to start that ball rolling again and take up where "W" left off. We could simply march in with BP and other drillers and start drilling! This would have the secondary benefit of pacifying the tree hugger types in the US, because it would obviate the need to drill in Alaska.
Trump has also demonstrated that he is willing to call out the Saudis for their unwillingness to give the US all the oil it wants. He said, "There’s so much oil, all over the world, they don’t even know where to dump it." He doesn't buy the idea of declining resources and never mind global warming! This posture will really go down well in the Middle East. They will realize that our President is not some wimp and will line up to see who can give us the most oil at the cheapest possible prices.
He has promised to really put the Chinese in their place too! Starting with sending them out to McDonald's instead of playing host to them at a state dinner, he wants to show them (and the rest of the world) who is boss: nothing like a Big Mac to make THAT sort of statement. Then he will tax them 25%. Boy, won't they be surprised! If they don't choke on the Big Macs, they might have trouble swallowing the sudden tax! Of course, the American consumer will also be delighted to pay 25% more for just about everything including Trump products. And if you think his language was bad when he gave his speech in Las Vegas last week, he promises even worse when negotiating with the Chinese!
Finally, I support him for his obvious intelligence and high moral standards. It's time the Republican Party has someone in a leadership role who can really represent its constituency.
Republican states are among our nation's fattest, and The Donald at 105kg (232 lbs) is someone who can weigh in for their interests. Since Republicans have a higher divorce rate than Democrats, Trump clearly shines as a moral leader with two divorces and three marriages (admittedly Newt Gingrich presents a challenge here with an identical record). Being an ignorant buffoon, of course, can be nothing but a plus when a majority of Republicans across the nation are noted for their belief in creationism and Republican Congressional members do not think humans are responsible for global climate change.
It's for these impeccable reasons that I feel I have to come out and support him now to be a serious candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. I hope all of you will join with me in this endeavor, so that we can see him on TV during the debates with the other Republican candidates. His natural leadership qualities and hairstyle will surely shine through!
He has proven his mettle by standing up to President Obama and calling for the "long form birth certificate" which proved beyond any doubt that Obama was born in Hawaii which, apparently, was not a part of Indonesia or Kenya at the time. (It wouldn't hurt to get the long form of Hawaii's birth certificate to make sure of that.)
He has demonstrated a strong commitment to international engagement by suggesting the US simply "take Iraqi and Libyan oil". I, for one, cannot believe we haven't done that sooner. When "W" was President, he tried his best, but it didn't turn out the way he had "planned". The Republicans need Trump to start that ball rolling again and take up where "W" left off. We could simply march in with BP and other drillers and start drilling! This would have the secondary benefit of pacifying the tree hugger types in the US, because it would obviate the need to drill in Alaska.
Trump has also demonstrated that he is willing to call out the Saudis for their unwillingness to give the US all the oil it wants. He said, "There’s so much oil, all over the world, they don’t even know where to dump it." He doesn't buy the idea of declining resources and never mind global warming! This posture will really go down well in the Middle East. They will realize that our President is not some wimp and will line up to see who can give us the most oil at the cheapest possible prices.
He has promised to really put the Chinese in their place too! Starting with sending them out to McDonald's instead of playing host to them at a state dinner, he wants to show them (and the rest of the world) who is boss: nothing like a Big Mac to make THAT sort of statement. Then he will tax them 25%. Boy, won't they be surprised! If they don't choke on the Big Macs, they might have trouble swallowing the sudden tax! Of course, the American consumer will also be delighted to pay 25% more for just about everything including Trump products. And if you think his language was bad when he gave his speech in Las Vegas last week, he promises even worse when negotiating with the Chinese!
Finally, I support him for his obvious intelligence and high moral standards. It's time the Republican Party has someone in a leadership role who can really represent its constituency.
Republican states are among our nation's fattest, and The Donald at 105kg (232 lbs) is someone who can weigh in for their interests. Since Republicans have a higher divorce rate than Democrats, Trump clearly shines as a moral leader with two divorces and three marriages (admittedly Newt Gingrich presents a challenge here with an identical record). Being an ignorant buffoon, of course, can be nothing but a plus when a majority of Republicans across the nation are noted for their belief in creationism and Republican Congressional members do not think humans are responsible for global climate change.
It's for these impeccable reasons that I feel I have to come out and support him now to be a serious candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. I hope all of you will join with me in this endeavor, so that we can see him on TV during the debates with the other Republican candidates. His natural leadership qualities and hairstyle will surely shine through!
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