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Why Conservatives Are Smarter

Why Conservatives Are Smarter

Writing in the Jerusalem Post, Jonathan Rosenblum of Jewish Media Resources ponders the careers of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice-designate Sam Alito, and in the process makes an excellent point about Ivy League conservatives and liberals:

Because of their minority status it is far more difficult for conservative students to entertain the illusion that all smart people think like them. They are exposed to many obviously bright young men and women whose opinions on almost every issue vary radically from their own._._._.

Being forced to recognize that there are different points of view helps make bright young conservatives such good debaters. They learn early on the limited persuasiveness of shouting at someone with whom they disagree, "You're an idiot." Of necessity they have to develop the ability to cast their arguments in ways that appeal to those starting from very different premises._._._.

Liberals can be wonderful people, and boon companions, but they often have a hard time dealing with people of opposing views--especially when they cannot dismiss them out of hand as idiots. Too often they have spent their entire adult lives surrounded almost entirely by those who think just like them, and it comes naturally to dismiss those of other views as intellectually or morally challenged.

This is true beyond the Ivy League. With liberalism the dominant ideology in the news and entertainment media, it is virtually inescapable to any American who doesn't go to great lengths to insulate himself from it. Big-city liberals, by contrast, can easily filter out conservative ideas, and thus need contend only with their own prejudices. Thus conservatives are smarter than liberals--not necessarily in terms of native intelligence, but of understanding the world around them.

(Hope the headline doesn't distract too much - some good info here)

Okay, I'll bite...

First critique is that this has nothing to do with intelligence which this concedes...NOR does it have anything to do with "understanding the world around you". This does have potential implications in skills and presentation of oneself, but to use the terms smarter or intelligence is an extreme misnomer designed to draw attention and controversy.

2nd...this definitely does not extend to all conservatives, all Ivy League conservatives or even all college educated conservatives. By this token, I'm a "smarter" liberal b/c I've lived in staunchly red states my entire life, and while yes, attending college did mean I found more people who think like me, I have met just as many who don't.

These types of articles do nothing to advance conversation, just to spread more distrust.

They are written for the self-edification of their intended audience. Nothing more.

If hoosier wants to compare his own intelligence to that of Roberts, Alito or Scalia... fine.

No hoosier, I'm not saying you're dumb -- just that this seems to be what the article is asking of its intended audience.

I think it's true.

-Rudey

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
I think it's true.

-Rudey

Re: Why Conservatives Are Smarter

Quote:

Originally posted by hoosier
Why Conservatives Are Smarter

Writing in the Jerusalem Post, Jonathan Rosenblum of Jewish Media Resources ponders the careers of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice-designate Sam Alito, and in the process makes an excellent point about Ivy League conservatives and liberals:

Because of their minority status it is far more difficult for conservative students to entertain the illusion that all smart people think like them. They are exposed to many obviously bright young men and women whose opinions on almost every issue vary radically from their own._._._.

Being forced to recognize that there are different points of view helps make bright young conservatives such good debaters. They learn early on the limited persuasiveness of shouting at someone with whom they disagree, "You're an idiot." Of necessity they have to develop the ability to cast their arguments in ways that appeal to those starting from very different premises._._._.

Liberals can be wonderful people, and boon companions, but they often have a hard time dealing with people of opposing views--especially when they cannot dismiss them out of hand as idiots. Too often they have spent their entire adult lives surrounded almost entirely by those who think just like them, and it comes naturally to dismiss those of other views as intellectually or morally challenged.

This is true beyond the Ivy League. With liberalism the dominant ideology in the news and entertainment media, it is virtually inescapable to any American who doesn't go to great lengths to insulate himself from it. Big-city liberals, by contrast, can easily filter out conservative ideas, and thus need contend only with their own prejudices. Thus conservatives are smarter than liberals--not necessarily in terms of native intelligence, but of understanding the world around them.

(Hope the headline doesn't distract too much - some good info here)

Okay, let's take this bit by bit:

1) What "minority status" do conservatives have, exactly? In case you missed the memo, the climate in this country (the U.S.) is becoming increasingly conservative in recent years. I know that in very few settings have I, as a liberal individual, ever been the majority - and yes, that does include on my college campus. (Where are the liberal colleges that everyone keeps talking about, and why didn't I go to one? Some of these people here are insane ...)

2) Both conservatives and liberals resort to yelling "You're an idiot!" - it has more to do with analytical and debating skills than political persuasion. I can think of a certain conservative on this board who, when apparently unable to logically answer my questions, called me a rabid dog instead.

3) Dealing with those of opposing views can be difficult for everyone, regardless of whether your own views are conservative or liberal. To me, it seems evident that conservatives have a harder time than liberals with this, simply by looking at the typical conservative and liberal positions on several "hot-button issues" of the moment, such as gay marriage. The conservatives, by definition, seem to have difficulty allowing others to make their own choices.

4) Who dismisses who as "morally challenged", exactly? I certainly hear this more from the conservative toward the liberals.

5) Both people in cities and people in rural areas could stand for quite a bit of educating regarding the way one another think and live. As for representations in the media, conservatives themselves have told me that they love Fox News for it's "non-liberal viewpoint".

Where do you find stuff like this? It's ridiculous ...

Re: Re: Why Conservatives Are Smarter

Quote:

Originally posted by OPhiARen3
Okay, let's take this bit by bit:

1) What "minority status" do conservatives have, exactly? In case you missed the memo, the climate in this country (the U.S.) is becoming increasingly conservative in recent years. I know that in very few settings have I, as a liberal individual, ever been the majority - and yes, that does include on my college campus. (Where are the liberal colleges that everyone keeps talking about, and why didn't I go to one? Some of these people here are insane ...)

There are "conservative" colleges - like Hillsdale and Bob Jones - but liberals rule most places. It's not the conservative Yale law profs arguing at the Supreme Court this week trying to uphold a ban on military recruiting. There were several stories before the 2004 election comparing the party registration of college profs - and almost none are registered Republicans.

2) Both conservatives and liberals resort to yelling "You're an idiot!" - it has more to do with analytical and debating skills than political persuasion. I can think of a certain conservative on this board who, when apparently unable to logically answer my questions, called me a rabid dog instead.

Sure, weak debaters on both sides resort to yelling, and one post comparing you to a dog proves nothing.

3) Dealing with those of opposing views can be difficult for everyone, regardless of whether your own views are conservative or liberal. To me, it seems evident that conservatives have a harder time than liberals with this, simply by looking at the typical conservative and liberal positions on several "hot-button issues" of the moment, such as gay marriage. The conservatives, by definition, seem to have difficulty allowing others to make their own choices.

Please spell out some of these "hard times." One of the principles of conservatism is a belief in the rule of law - not in the discredited "do your own thing."

4) Who dismisses who as "morally challenged", exactly? I certainly hear this more from the conservative toward the liberals.

Many libs led the hippee era of free love, communes, etc., and still live, teach, vote, and preach that philosophy. Of course, conservatives work against the morally challenged.

5) Both people in cities and people in rural areas could stand for quite a bit of educating regarding the way one another think and live. As for representations in the media, conservatives themselves have told me that they love Fox News for it's "non-liberal viewpoint".

No one had stepped forward with a single instance of Fox News being biased or distorting news (and natl. talk show host Neal Boortz has offered $10,000 for an example). The Fox talk show hosts have view points - that's their job. They are not newsmen.

Even if one accepts that Fox has a conservative viewpoint, that's one cable network against CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, AP, ABC, CBS, NBC, MTV, VH1, Wash. Post, NY Times, LA Times, and a hundred more regional newspapers.
Name one conservative regularly appearing on CNN? Even Sean Hannity has the lib Colmes as a co-host.

Where do you find stuff like
this? It's ridiculous ...

The most damning part of my original post is:

"They (conservatives) learn early on the limited persuasiveness of shouting at someone with whom they disagree, "You're an idiot."

You have given us four examples to such shouting in your four paragraphs:

1 - Some of these people here are insane
2 - Where do you find stuff like this?
3 - It's ridiculous ...
4 - The conservatives, by definition, seem to have difficulty

Let's debate - not shout "You're an idiot."

Re: Re: Re: Why Conservatives Are Smarter

Quote:

Originally posted by hoosier
Even if one accepts that Fox has a conservative viewpoint, that's one cable network against CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, AP, ABC, CBS, NBC, MTV, VH1, Wash. Post, NY Times, LA Times, and a hundred more regional newspapers.
Name one conservative regularly appearing on CNN? Even Sean Hannity has the lib Colmes as a co-host.

Robert Novak.

As a bonus, on MSNBC you have Tucker Carlson and Joe Scarborough, not exactly flaming liberals.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Why Conservatives Are Smarter

Quote:

Originally posted by Sister Havana
Robert Novak.

As a bonus, on MSNBC you have Tucker Carlson and Joe Scarborough, not exactly flaming liberals.

Believe Novak is gone.

Saw Joe as Grand Marshall in Pensacola Sun. He's a former GOP congressman.

Even with these examples, the Red State type people are not getting near equal time in the MSM.

Alan Colmes is not a Liberal.

His book also sucks the bucket.

(Not that I trust Wikipedia, but many GCers do)

Alan Colmes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Alan Colmes (born September 24, 1950 in New York City, New York), is the liberal half of Fox News Channel's popular political debate program Hannity and Colmes, along with the staunch conservative Sean Hannity. He was a well-known radio talk show personality in the New York City area before being asked to co-host the show at Hannity's request. Colmes is married to the sister of radio host Monica Crowley.

Alan Colmes also hosts his own nationally syndicated radio show, The Alan Colmes Show, formerly FOX News Live with Alan Colmes. He has also written a book, Red, White & Liberal: How Left is Right and Right is Wrong (ISBN 0060562978) which was published in October 2003.

Alan Colmes is nothing more than a shell...He never calls Hannity out on anything and a lot times takes an extremely centrist view. He's only liberal b/c he's sitting next to Hannity.

Quote:

Originally posted by Betarulz!
Alan Colmes is nothing more than a shell...He never calls Hannity out on anything and a lot times takes an extremely centrist view. He's only liberal b/c he's sitting next to Hannity.

What views does he hold on popular topics?

Both of the Clintons and Lieberman take Centrist views on the left. Are they not liberal either?

-Rudey

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why Conservatives Are Smarter

Quote:

Originally posted by hoosier
Believe Novak is gone.

Not according to the CNN website.

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
They are written for the self-edification of their intended audience. Nothing more.

Oh come on... that was much more polite a euphamism than I would expect from you...