Superficiality Redefined

I routinely tell my political science classes that America has become too stupid to be a democracy. We simply aren’t literate, analytical, discriminating enough or adequately rational to make intelligent choices regarding who should represent us in government. If you want verification of that thesis, simply look at the credibility which the American public ascribes to the movie stars and pop idols of Hollywood. They are clearly well-known and largely successful in an industry that profits only by appealing to the lowest common intellectual denominator in our country. That success does not, however, confer any expertise in economics, international relations or even management of a large enterprise. Why then do we listen when Crow, Baldwin, Affleck, Pitt, Penn or Darryl Hannah speak of endorsement of a candidate or are critical of a complex governmental policy?

Watching the extravaganza in Denver this week highlights the problem exquisitely. The action in the streets makes my point. The signs, the outfits, the gutter rhetoric, the resort to violent confrontation rather than reason all lead me to believe that we are too stupid to be a democracy. They are mindless drones indoctrinated in sound-bites and slogans without any concepts of reality.

Within the Pepsi Center, the speeches and the orchestration of emotion asks us to suspend disbelief, ignore what we know of facts, deny the language when it doesn’t agree with the dreams being woven before our eyes. When the speakers state unequivocally things which we know to be false, why do we accept them now as true? It reeks of 1984’s Ministry of Truth. I almost expect that Baghdad Bob, the Minister of Information for the former high-poobah of Iraq will make a guest appearance today to explain what we see isn’t really what is true. Ignore the man behind the curtain and listen to the Great Oz.

The WSJ asks why we keep getting (and accepting) unknowns from the Democrats:

Governors Are Chief Executives

I would respond that the answer is my basic premise; we are too stupid to demand anything else. We get inexperienced people as candidates because they can be packaged for us. They can be as malleable as they need to be in order to appeal to our populist instincts. We aren’t discerning enough to consider real-world qualifications if they are nebulous enough to satisfy our undeserving greed.

The advantages usually are considerable. While someone with thirty years of experience might be exceedingly well qualified, the probability is also that they have stepped on toes along the way. They’ve made enemies and even some wrong decisions that can be highlighted. Their policy positions might have evolved over time and it can be pointed out that they are flip-floppers. Give me someone who has done nothing and it will be difficult to find fault. Have them promise me everything and I’ll flock to their side. If my largess comes from the pockets of someone else, I’ll vote for them several times.

Let’s all ignore the inflammatory pastor, the unrepentant terrorist, the total lack of experience in governance, the dearth of executive background, the questionable real-estate deal with a convicted felon. Let’s simply feel good about America. Let’s hope and change and wish and smile and tax. Be proud of your stupidity, and despair if you don’t appreciate what will be done for you by the Messiah.