The S factor explains Bush's popularity

[Newsjock]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/155107_firstperson05.html

By NEAL STARKMAN
GUEST COLUMNIST

... What can explain his popularity? Can that many people be enamored of what he has accomplished in Iraq? Of how he has fortified our constitutional freedoms with the USA Patriot Act? Of how he has bolstered our economy? Of how he has protected our environment? Perhaps they've been impressed with the president's personal integrity and the articulation of his grand vision for America?

... The answer, I'm afraid, is the factor that dare not speak its name. It's the factor that no one talks about. The pollsters don't ask it, the media don't report it, the voters don't discuss it.

... It's the "Stupid factor," the S factor: Some people -- sometimes through no fault of their own -- are just not very bright.

... You know these people; they're all around you (they're not you, else you would not be reading this article this far). They're the ones who keep the puerile shows on TV, who appear as regular recipients of the Darwin Awards, who raise our insurance rates by doing dumb things, who generally make life much more miserable for all of us than it ought to be. Sad to say, they comprise a substantial minority -- perhaps even a majority -- of the populace.

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[napi21]

1. Love the "S Factor"

It's a great description, and the statement if people ignoring it is quite valid.

I'd love for this to really be promoted! I know the media isn't about to do it, but we sure could do it on the net!

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. We have all met these people

they're scary and sadly they may be the majority of the country

the zombification of the coutry may now be complete or the election
of '04 will tell us otherwise

[Manix]

3. ..yeah I think they are called dittoheads etc....get their logic

from bumper stickers.

[priller]

4. Describes my ex-wife exactly

The people I'm referring to cannot understand the phenomenon of cause and effect. They're perplexed by issues comprising more than two sides. They don't have the wherewithal to expand the sources of their information. And above all -- far above all -- they don't think.

Sad to say this, but she had almost no ability to reason. So every decision was based on emotion and feeling. And furthermore, it didn't matter how much you tried to reason with her, her feelings were "true", and any attempt to get her to set aside her feelings and look at the facts was just so much trickery and confusion. "I know in my heart it's right!" -- jeez, I can't tell you how many times I heard that.

[ixion]

5. thanks for posting this

I can only hope that the 'S factor' dilema will get legs, but sadly, since most broadcast media achors fall into this category, I'm afraid we're facing an uphill struggle.

The 'S' factor is the reason American Idol continues to be popular, why 'reality' shows have become the mainstay of popular television, and why the Monkey King is still a 'popular' president.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. The S factor has always been there

but it's only in recent years that I have felt that the Mean and the Dumb ( or worse yet, the people who are both mean and dumb) have been steadily taking over the government, the media, and our other institutions.

[qwlauren35]

7. Actually....

I'm not sure this needs to go very far.

On the Discussion Board, someone has posted their Cognitive Dissonance theory, which suggests that people ignore the bad news and cling to the booby who did it to them when the going gets rough.

Telling people that they are stupid for voting for Bush given what he's done is not going to get them to switch their votes.

It will only piss them off...

[Martin Eden]

8. I agree

Calling Bush supporters stupid is counterproductive in the efforts to change these people's minds.

And a lot of bush supporters aren't necessarily stupid; they're ill-informed and don't make the effort to find sources of information other than the propaganda broadcast on the evening news.

[teryang]

9. I don't buy this

Most people voted against dim wit. So they can't be that stupid. One columnist recently referred to today's America as proto-totalitarian. This is much closer to the mark.

Whites particularly males are plagued with insecurity economic, social and political. The fact is that a white male who isn't rich or extraordinarily talented is not only more likely to be going nowhere, but is probably going in reverse. His wife or girlfriend may be carrying him. There is little social mobility for the untalented non genius without a capital bankroll behind him. The increasing lack of social mobility among whites is disturbing to them. Minorities on the other hand, have been coping with this politically and socially for some time.

What has the white response been to offset its perceived falling down? Prayer meetings at the office? Maybe. For the blue collar, biblical drunken pronouncements at the local pub. Public avowals of allegiance to Lush Rimhole and the other demagogues in the pantheon of the far right. Racism and condemnation of political correctness. Macho pronouncements of the need to make war and vague discussions of the virtue of dim wit's leadership. This is a psychological need of the impotent and identity-less to hail the leader. It makes them feel a part of a movement, even if it is a reactionary one. It is compensation for a sense of social isolation and powerlessness. The more alienated and impotent people perceive themselves the more they want to "pledge allegiance." If one affects the faux image of power, then one doesn't feel powerless. Put a flag on your car, then maybe you won't get tailgated or crushed by the road hog Navigators and Yukons of the rich or the F 150s of the "stupid."

As a democrat, one feels powerless in relative terms in a corporatist environment and actually has to organize, communicate and mobilize to offset that imbalance of power. Many democratic groups have a tradition of organizing to achieve goals. What do ordinary white families have? Their local obscurantist minister? The declining influence of the union? VFW? Elks? Eagles?

As a repuke proto-totalitarian, one is assured, of immediate acceptance for one's views and then nothing further need be done. One is enabled by speaking the jingos. The fact that nothing is accomplished to offset impending decline need not disturb you, when you are socially accepted.

[Lithos]

10. Don't agree with it

Yes, there are a lot of ignorant people out there, but most of what is going on seems fear based. Rove and company seem particularly skilled at manipulating this fear to their benefit.

L-

[DarkSim]

11. S is what S sees

yeah people nowadays seem rediculous. I think we can attribute most of this overwhelming stupidity to crappy tv making people stupid and simple, heck i'd go as far as to say; its a republican plot to dumb up the people so that the republicans get an easy win in '04.