You are too smart to understand this code word ...

"Elitist"

The use of the term "elitist" is brilliant "dog-whistle politics": It's a diss on intelligent people put in a way that only stupid people get. If you think that being "elite" corresponds to high social and economic class, you didn't hear the whistle. If that were correct, it would be impossible for Hillary to call Barack elitist, and George W. would surely be the paragon of elitism. For such a bright person, you are being really f-cking dense about this!

It has often been remarked about George W. that he is markedly "incurious". That's a euphemism for his determined idiocy - for his refusal to use his considerable intelligence. His incuriosity makes him acceptable to those who are not bright - he's a "good guy to have a beer with" because he won't make the voters feel self-conscious about how stupid they are.

So, what's the true meaning of "elitist"? A person who regards themselves as reasonably bright. If you think you're bright, you will want other bright people to respect your opinions and beliefs as based on facts and sound reasoning. That makes you "elitist".

But if you think that you are NOT bright, you will avoid reasoned discussions that are likely to expose your incapacity. You will not like people who are smarter than you. You will not respect facts over beliefs - science over religious faith. You will dismiss global warming and the age of the earth as theories no better than your own guesses, or what your preacher, or your radio talk-show host tells you. You will be ripe for manipulation, and transparent pandering. You'll know what "elitist" means, and you'll resent the elitist candidate. You'll hear the whistle.

Of course democracy is supposed to be government of, by, and for the people. That means ALL the people, without regard to race, gender, or intelligence. But that doesn't mean that our nation will best be served by unintelligent - or by anti-intelligent - leadership. Whether they can bring themselves to acknowlege it or not, stupid people will be better off if they elect a leader who is as smart as possible - certainly smarter than they are.

If we are ever to put the Bush years behind us, we will have to break the taboo against calling stupidity stupid.

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The "holiday" is NOT just a political gimmick. It's THEFT

Basic economics: The price of any commodity, such as gas, is determined by supply relative to demand. The "holiday" does nothing to affect supply, and will INCREASE demand. Gas will suddenly be 18 cents cheaper, and in the spirit of a "holiday", people will buy more gas. The price will immediately rebound. The only thing that will have changed is that the 18 cents will go into the oil company pockets rather than into our treasury.

The "holiday" is NOT just a political gimmick. It is yet another proposal to raid the national treasury for BIG OIL by two corporatist politicians.

Why can't I avert my eyes from this F---ing TRAIN WRECK...?

Is it just me...?

For two years I've focused my activism entirely on unhorsing the neoCons. I even wrote on this board about how stupid and insipid the "cat-fighting cliques" of Obamites and Hillarians appeared to anybody who cared about anything larger. But the drama of the cat-fight built and built, and then Hillary said that shit about "I know McCain will bring a lifetime of experience to the White House...", and I became so furious that I lost sight of ...everything.

Who told what lie. Who's staffer played a dirty trick. Who's ex-pastor went off his meds. Intellectually I know there are a hell of a lot of issues that really do matter, that are existential to freedom, and to peace. World survival is at stake. But I can't even remember what those issues are anymore.

My neck is rubber, and I'm transfixed.

Can somebody please remind me of some real issues?