David Janes had the same thought that I did about this report by "researchers" on what supposedly defines a political conservative. As he says, the thing basically states that conservatism is a mental disorder.
The point is to lay the groundwork so "conservatives" can be forced into treatment to "cure" their mental condition.
Then he links to an article on how the Chinese are sending dissidents to mental hospitals, which is not exactly a new practice in any communist country. So leftist academics are dreaming of the day they can load up people like William F. Buckley into a padded truck, what a surprise.
That being said, let's take a brief look at the list of "symptoms" these learned beings came up with. [JEFF FOXWORTHY VOICE] You might be a conservative [/JEFF FOXWORTHY VOICE] if you have these 'psychological factors':
Okay. John Collins already did a lengthy examination of these points. I haven't much to add to his rundown, and I am having trouble thinking of words at this hour anyway. But I am afraid that I must inform the learned minds that came up with this crap that "fear and aggression" is not unique to conservatives, but a main component of human nature (and if you don't believe me just go up to your nearest peace moron and ask them what they think of George W. Bush); "dogmatism" and "intolerance of ambiguity" are two different things and should each have a line of their own; "uncertainty avoidance" is -- how can I say this -- normal, as well as being another standard component of that icky, unchanging human nature thing; as is the "need for cognitive closure" (are these people seriously saying that there is something wrong with this?); and I am not sure what "terror management" is supposed to be -- if they are talking about the current political and military situation, that is not a "psychological event," but if they are talking about controlling one's own response to one's fears, they seem to be saying that there is something wrong with that. Fine. You guys stay with the hysterics. I'll hang out here with the people who can control themselves.
Posted by Andrea Harris at July 25, 2003 08:35 AMI’m not sure what ‘terror management’ means – I thought they were criticizing conservatives’ need to control terrorism instead of letting it run wild and free with the wind in its hair (which is what many Berkeleyites would prefer to do.)
Posted by: mary at July 25, 2003 at 11:39 AM"Terror management" - could that possibly mean "controlling one's own fears," i.e., courage?
Posted by: Russ at July 25, 2003 at 02:17 PMAre these the same people who came up with the idea that it's good for little boys to be used sexually by men or are they just their soulmates?
How long does one have to study to become such an idiot? I used to think we could straighten out the acedemics with tar and feathers, I'm more and more afraid that it's going to take rifles and ropes.