the ultra-conservative mind

I have a theory.
I'm 21 years old. I've spent a lot of time throughout high school and college (from which I'm about to graduate, I might happily add) participating in political discussions in class and in the cafeteria.

...Let me go back even further for a second.

In seventh grade, which would have been--oh--1996, I began watching the Lehrer Report every night on PBS. They used to have Mark Shields and Paul Gigot as their left/right pundits. I remember back then noticing how different these men were...both intelligent...but fundamentally different. I wondered what it was...

Begining freshman year of high school, I noticed that there people in my class who displayed the same kind of behaviors I noticed were odd about right-wing pundits on television.

These kids would say things for the pure pleasure of watching people react negatively, and they got pleasure out of it. I always thought it was pretty sick. They rarely added anything of serious substance to debates, but rather injected some kind of pointless argument.

I think that, to a certain extent, the really super-conservative people out there (and I'm talking the real a-holes, here) actually have a sociopathic disorder. Seriously.

I've also observed that it is often the socially ostracized kids who take to having conservative ideologies. For whatever reason, these kids don't feel accepted by the "normal" crowd (or whatever) and so they reject the ideology of that group as well.

I really think they are lonely, sad, people. I think deep down inside they are fundamentally uncomfortable with themselves. (I mean, we all are to a certain level, but these people choose to deal with it in a unique way)

Think about it: Of all the really conservative pundits, radio hosts, authors, etc who are popular today, do you doubt any one of them doesn't have serious social/mental issues?? I think they're all nuts, to be honest, and I think it all probably goes back to a miserable childhood and adolesence.

Are any of those people, for example, folks of whom you could say, "You know, I don't agree with his/her politics, but he's probably a great person inside"? HELL NO. They're all crazy!

Look, you know why there are so many Conservative talk show hosts and all that? Because living with that kind of ideology makes you nuts, and because its easier to listen to someone who's nuts than to someone making a clear, well-thought-out point, people listen!

The equivalent on the left are people like Al Franken, who is obviously a happy, successful person outside of his politics.

Seriously, I would love to get someone to do a study on this. At my University, I've been active in the Young Democrats. We're a great bunch of people, happy, fun-loving, etc. The College Republicans, on the other hand, do the same nasty sh** they did back in high school. Sh** that just pisses people off...and they f***ing LOVE DOING IT. What kind of sick person does that sh**??? These people were up against, they are seriously sick people.

Interesting stuff.

Couple links for you:

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/07/22_politics.shtml

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~jonjayray/conmisan.html

http://home.iprimus.com.au/burgess1/exrefs.html

I think you've got it! I remember it to be that way as well!

despite spouting off nothing but hate towards any and all minority groups should tell you something.

I think Savage's appeal is the same kind of sensationalism you get from the Jerry Springer show. I must admit I used to listen to Savage regularly for the entertainment value of hearing someone so angry all the time... although I'd turn off whenever he started getting racist.

a great time doing our PROGRESSIVE radio show..

Stranger and I are Sociopathic Liberals :)

We say mean things to Right wingers just to get them riled..

have a listen for yourself at:

http://www.takebackthemedia.com/radio.shtml

FEAR. Fear of lawlessness in the streets unless social order is maintained. Fear of welfare recipients taking the $$$ from the wealthy. Fear of non-whites taking over.

Ultra-right leaders often have this evil glint in their eye that is hard to explain.

When I saw footage of Jean-Marie Le Pen speak, I noticed he has that same evil glimmer in his eye that W has.

Watch footage of W's Earth Day speech and you will know what I'm talking about.

Ummm... who controls industry in America? Who's controlled congress for the last 10 years?

Let's see - intellectuals, feminists, advocates of underrepresented people, artists and musicians, homosexuals - yep, that's my memory - they were the popular people in high school.

Has to do with going beyond black and white thinking into abstract thinking.

As a writing teacher, I can tell you that some people just can't do it. They are black and white thinkiers; can't see the gray.


Cher