Reading, Intelligence, Awareness, and Party Affiliation

[southerngirlwriter]

The "are you a book addict?" thread made me realize something.

My circle of friends is fairly small. I have about 8 people I'd call "close" or "good" friends, and 4 people who I refer to as my family of choice (as opposed to "family of origin," those I am related to by blood and birth).

Of those 12 people, there are 10 progressives/liberals and 2 conservatives.

9 of the liberals are voracious bookworms. The other 3 never read a damn thing.

My parents and (adult) sister are rabid conservatives. Surprise! They never read anything except the Bible and the things you can't avoid reading (the phone bill, menus in restaurants).

Things that make me go hmmmm.........

[JailBush]

1. Much has been written about the apparent academic

differences (dare I say gulf?) between conservatives and liberals. I tend to agree that liberals are generally better EDUCATED. Unfortunately, they're as deficient in another area as conservatives. I don't know what to call it, other than common sense. I'm just really struck by the stupidity I encounter among liberals and conservatives alike.

To elaborate, I can talk to liberals who are far better educated than I am - computer experts, doctors, architects, etc. - but who are unbelievably clueless about politics or the world around them.

If I had a degree in psychology, I'd study what makes Americans so stupid.

[Just Me]

3. Stupid is as complicated does

The remark about "common sense" is relevant to just about every decisive topic in this upside-down country of ours. I was raised surrounded by a bible-belt that reached for progression only to be squashed by an intellectualized version of rationalism. I can have touching conversations with both sides of the currently empowered and increasingly divided party adherents,...by talking about the common sense basics. I have never pretended my nine years of college somehow made me the grand poompaah over humanity. To the contrary, I tell anyone with whom I engage in an honest conversation that,...knowledge simply proved to me how little I or anyone else truly knows about all those fundamental questions we ask ourselves. The only simple answer I have created for myself and my life,...is to accept that none of us have all the answers. To the contrary, we all face the unknown. While all the battles for certainty among humanity still continue, I believe the best way to combat the future none of us can foretell is to do it,...together. Instead of a good vs. bad, right vs. wrong, better vs. worse, this vs. that,...why can't we choose for humanity vs. against humanity in our quest to endure as a species against the unknown? Let us start with that basic and build on being for humanity.

[newyawker99]

4. Hi Just Me!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Redneck Socialist]

2. I don't think "formal" education is the defining factor.

I know some smart people on both sides of the political divide and I know lots of people, few of which I would describe as stupid, who don't know much and understand less about politics. I am talking about more than "civic intelligence" i.e. how bills get passed, the three branches of government, etc.

Very few people that I know understand what happens on campaigns and how people get elected. By and large this is willful ignorance. Many if not most of these folks seem to not care about politics.

Most of the people that I know that are really tuned in to politics have either worked in politics in some fashion and their knowledge is professional or they are "self educated" about politics. Though to support your thesis most of these people are well read and voracious news junkies.