THIS IS THE FINAL INSTALLMENT IN MY REPLY TO Chris, which begins here.
I would have the same reaction, if the real world were like the fantasy land invented by right-wing media.
I want to end with a defense, of sorts—not of the conservative pundits like Glenn Beck, who are financed by the super-wealthy to mislead voters—but of the normal, everyday, conservative, who is being misled.
Last time, Chris, I pointed out that although conservatives are just as caring, and just as bright, as liberals, they live in a world of misinformation.
This is because people who provide that information (the Fox pundits, talk radio hosts, runners of websites, campaign managers, and writers of propaganda emails) only care about winning an argument or an election, and care nothing for the facts.
So, if someone believes that:
- Texas has been invaded by Mexican drug lords, or that
- allowing same-sex marriage will make your children become gay, or that
- Acorn employees would help out a prostitution ring, or that
- the average American Muslim is a terrorist, or that
- Shirley Sherrod was using her office to do white people in, or that
- Obama is trying to nationalize all business, or that
- he isn't a U.S. citizen, or that
- Iraq was behind 9/11, or that
- raising taxes on the top 1% or 2% will send the country into a depression, or that
- crime is increasing at alarming rates in Arizona because of immigrants, or that
- their taxes will jump because of health care reform,
...and that person believes all this because they have never been exposed to the solid evidence that none of those "facts" are true, it doesn't matter where their heart is or how good their mind is.
They're going to want to deny freedom of religion to their fellow Americans.
They're going to endorse laws that allow U.S. citizens to be hassled because of their race.
They're going to vote to raise the deficit in order to give a tax cut to people who already have more than enough money, and end up not getting the government services they really need, or even the social security they've already paid for.
They are going to vote against their own interests.
And all of this is a perfectly natural reaction.
I would have the same reaction, if the real world were like the fantasy land invented by right-wing media.
As I said earlier, Chris, I don't know how much of that fantasy you personally buy into.
My guess, from the tone of your comment, would be that you don't buy into all of it.
But I do see some evidence that you have fallen prey to one symptom of their overall campaign.
One of the results of this constant bombardment of half-truths and lies is that many conservatives can read someone like me and not really hear what I'm saying at all.
One of the lies that get fed to conservatives is that you've heard it all before—so you don't have to listen now.
Which brings me full circle:
- You accused me of implying that conservatives want poor people to starve.
I think if you read the John Wall article again, you'll see that I didn't imply any thing of the sort. - You accused me of wanting to create a socialist "'Utopia' where everyone works just as hard as everyone else and everyone gets just what they need."
I think if you reread what I actually said, you'll only find that I endorsed truly free markets. - You contrasted those positions—which I don't hold—to your values of private property and hard work—which I do hold, along with most liberals.
And you end by challenging me—in a very nice way, I must say—to a fantasy contest between Texas and California.
But that's part of the pattern, Chris.
You can believe whatever you want to believe about a fantasy experiment, or whatever the conservative propaganda machine has taught you to believe.
How about just consulting the real world facts about Texas and California?
All I ask you to do is to check your facts, whenever you have a chance.
That's my friendly challenge to you.
I'm convinced that if you do that you will discover before too long that you have been a liberal—a believer in freedom and democracy, and in truth—all along.
I really do appreciate the civility and respect you exhibited in your comment.
I hope I've lived up to that standard here.
Respectfully,
Ken
