The Devil They Think They Know (how to talk to an apolitical-if you must)

[rodeodance]

beatiful story


http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/p_m_carpenters_commentary/2005/05/the_devil_they_.html

> May 04, 2005
> The Devil They Think They Know…
>
> A few months ago I was sharing some cheap Chianti at a cheap bistro with a rather non-political -- borderline apolitical -- acquaintance. Nevertheless, for reasons forgotten he happened to wonder out loud why our political leaders were permitting a mushroom cloud of a deficit. He couldn’t understand why the powers that be weren’t tackling what must surely be a coming meltdown.
>
> “It’s quite simple,” I said. “The powers that be aren’t fumbling the ball or merely tolerating this looming disaster. Quite the contrary. They’re doing everything they can to ensure it. It’s an ideological thing, a desire to undo the New Deal – anything at all related to FDR’s humanization of capitalism.” I was happy to explain this oddity.
>
> “They want a deficit so grotesque that virtually all social programs will be a fiscal impossibility down the road, even if a socially conscientious governing team sweeps into power. The money simply won’t be there. Deficits and their accumulated debt-interest will be too huge to allow any wiggle room. We’ll be stuck with the far right’s agenda, no matter who’s in power.”
>
> I noticed more than a glimmer of incredulity, so I plowed ahead.
>
> “Oh, they were once coy about it. This thinking started during the Reagan years somewhat serendipitously when their supply-side rigmarole didn’t work out, but they denied it. Lately, however, thinking they have ‘the people’ on their side, well, now they’re brazenly open about it – in particular, Grover Norquist, the blabbermouthing right-wing ideologue in bed with Karl Rove, politically speaking.”.....


.....I sensed that his irritation -- now coming as well, it seemed, from embarrassment over being so uninformed -- threatened a sputtering rage. Truth can be dismissed if one gets mad enough at its messenger. And, I further sensed, this messenger had by now grown that second horn and, to boot, a tail, snaking up and around the trident just behind me. Knowing that most people refuse to accept the Devil’s word on something, I lit a cigarette, poured two more bad Chiantis and changed the subject.

[DemBones DemBones]

1. Too true. Half the country won't believe what's happening

right in front of their eyes.

[The Doctor.]

2. Too uncomfortable.

Americans hate so much to be uncomfortable that they will create a mental 'Ministry of Truth' to keep them that way.

That's kind of what Adams meant with 'Peril sensitive sunglasses'.

Half the populace wears them.

[Psephos]

4. All, not half -- including you and me

It's a basic human psychological trait, and if anything, political orientation is a marker for it, just as strong religious belief is.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0684831074/qid=1115351893/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-6269496-1419300?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Peace.

[Joebert]

3. I wish I could find...

an all-logic, no emotion, factual representation of this type of thing.

Something that when I get into these discussions, I will have been able to read up and understand it thoroughly, with sources.

So many wonderful sites are ruined by injecting anger into it. I want to be able to deflect the emotional stuff with the logic behind it.