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The cynic in me suggests that one of the political parties in the US doesn't really want the population well educated. I also feel "fact check via google" is a
by bb88 3y ago
The cynic in me suggests that one of the political parties in the US doesn't really want the population well educated.
I also feel "fact check via google" is also the wrong way to go about it, because google just spits out whatever the internet says.
The reality is that a certain skeptical mindset is required when consuming news reports. And when the skepticism goes away, you end up with a cult. And that's not something that every school district teaches.
- the_gastropod 3y agoFirstly, I think you're right—and their policies very much so reflect this. Re: the "skeptical mindset"—I think critical thought is essential. But that's a lot more complex than merely having a "skeptical mindset", which is effectively what these "Do your own research" type of people tend to have. They're skeptical of the "mainstream elites", and that's about the end of the thought process. They're very likely to buy most narratives that counters mainstream consensus.
- sugarplant 3y ago> The cynic in me suggests that one of the political parties in the US doesn't really want the population well educated. yes just the single party that is the opposite of mine of course ;)
- the_gastropod 3y agoOh my! A both-sideser! Yep. Both U.S. political parties are equally problematic! No distinctions to be drawn, whatsoever!
- mrangle 3y agoThere are, in fact, at least two positions on most issues that the English speaking world cares about. But why move the goal post from voter education to a discussion on the subjective badness of the two main parties? That is, if your aim is to make a point under the discussion being had.
- hetman 3y agoI don't think he ever said "equally".
- insickness 3y agoNope. Just one side is problematic. The other has a monopoly on wisdom and justice. Go team!
- bb88 3y agoAnd the other believes in a violent overthrow of congress because they can't string words together in a coherent thought to convince the other side? I thought one of the benefits to the US was a "marketplace of ideas".
- mrangle 3y agoWho violently overthrew Congress? Gaslighting doesn't help your argument. Is the "markeptplace of ideas" like when the Media and the DNC incited mass riots for eight full months before the 2019 election, mass-terrorizing American voters? To what end? To make sure there was a "fair trial" (note: this assured the opposite)? Or to make sure that the preferred candidate was elected? Again, by targeting American voters.
- bb88 3y agoWho's gaslighting who? I recall a certain January 6 even to which the convicted criminals Elaine Stefanik refers to as "Hostages". Who are you talking about?
- a_gnostic 3y agoThat was when they almost burned down the White House Jefferson Church. Was a dark day for our sacred Democracy.
- mrangle 3y agoWhen was Congress overthrown? Which Congresspeople were harmed? Which Grandmas with American flags, now with criminal records, meant to take over the US government? Yes, there are a lot of people in prison. They have been subject to norm-breaking prosecution under the opposition party's adminstration. Whenever an opposition party decides to arrest and prosecute its competition, they try to deflect from the authoritarian fact and deride those people as crimimnals as much as possible. This is the playbook for every tin-pot dictator since Sumer. And in this instance, the authoritarians in question rode into office on eight months of nation-shattering street terrorism that their party incited and protected. Of course, the dictators proclaim those riots as perfectly legitimate and that of their competition as criminal. See: Tin Pot Dictator.
- sugarplant 3y agoproblematic about what? the idea of an "educated" voter is very childish a lot of political topics, particularly foreign policy and economics, are far too complicated for ordinary people to be informed about. if you ever have the time i would recommend reading the book "propaganda" by jacques ellul. or just skimming the chapter titled "the necessity for propaganda." it's pretty relevant to the thread as well
- bb88 3y agoI think you can be skeptical of Democrats as well as Republicans. Here's a for instance: In ruby red Idaho, where I live, Mike Lindell said that votes were switched from Trump to Biden. [1] Trump won with 64 % of the vote in Idaho. Get this: "Butte County after the election reported a tally of 1,193 votes for Trump and 188 for Biden. Lindell contended Biden only received 130. But the hand count of ballots found 188 to be accurate." So Mike Lindell thinks the democrats reached into Butte county in Idaho and twisted 50 votes towards Biden! [1] https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-election-recounts-idaho-election-2020-f3d99fe6680298e56af7d6873279a0a1#:~:text=BOISE%2C%20Idaho%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94,and%20MyPillow%20CEO%20Mike%20Lindell https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-election-r....
- mrangle 3y ago"one of"
- the_gastropod 3y agoYes. One of. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/11/18/what-house-republicans-want-do-public-education-funding/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/11/18/what-hou...
- mrangle 3y agoYou prior wrote "well educated".
- hetman 3y agoThe cynic in me suggests this is true of both major parties in US politics. The sets of things they want to you learn and don't want you to learn -- usually because it's just too hard to have a public conversation due to ideological conflict -- those sets of things just happen to be different in either case.
- vladms 3y agoI wonder if there is some connection between prevalence of actual cults (or any organization built on belief, like churches or totalitarian regimes) and opposition to teaching on how to be skeptical.