(In
other words, left versus right. 😉)
Critical thinking. What is it? I’m sure to the MAGA mob mentality it’s some kind of insidious form of Marxism or "wokism". They would be wrong, as usual. Look at a Trump rally, where the Criminal President declares, “I love the poorly educated”. Their malevolent mendacious messiah can tell them any lie and they will believe it, regurgitate it, and even enforce it with violence.
Unfortunately they are not the only group that has never been concerned with critical thinking. It takes curiosity and effort to practice it. Many people have neither the time nor inclination to bother with it. To the functionally illiterate, intellectually lazy, and incurious masses it’s something completely off their radar. This is one of humanity’s gravest flaws. Without critical thinking humans are as easily herded as sheep. And, indeed they are. They will believe and follow authoritarian leaders, which has NEVER resulted in a more just, equal, prosperous, and stable democratic society.
Rational and civil discourse becomes impossible with cults and the willfully ignorant.
And the problem is it isn’t always just them. People with higher intelligence, or average intelligence like myself, can slip into authoritarian prejudice and bigotry, snap judgments, unconsidered impressions, and impulsive actions. Who among us has never said or done anything stupid? It’s very easy to forget to use an important tool for our own well-being, or survival.
Before further any discussion on critical thinking, let's have a look at stupidity.
Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless. Neither protests nor the use of force accomplish anything here; reasons fall on deaf ears; facts that contradict one’s prejudgment simply need not be believed – in such moments the stupid person even becomes critical – and when facts are irrefutable, they are just pushed aside as inconsequential, as incidental. In all this the stupid person, in contrast to the malicious one, is utterly self-satisfied and, being easily irritated, becomes dangerous by going on the attack. For that reason, greater caution is called for when dealing with a stupid person than with a malicious one. Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison
Dietrich
Bonhoeffer was a German Christian theologian executed by the Nazis just days
before the end of WWII for his participation in a plot to assassinate Hitler.
~~~~~~~
Back to the original question. What is critical thinking? Here are some definitions and insight.
Merriam-Webster defines it as, “the act or practice of thinking critically (as by applying reason and questioning assumptions) in order to solve problems, evaluate information, discern biases, etc.”
~~~~~~
Critical Thinking as Defined by the National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking, 1987
A statement by Michael Scriven & Richard Paul, presented at the 8th Annual International Conference on Critical Thinking and Education Reform, Summer 1987:
Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness.
~~~~~~
7 Steps For Critical Thinking
By Brendon Burchard
1. Identify the problem or question: Define the exact issue or goal clearly and write out a precise problem statement.
2. Gather relevant information: Collect data, facts, and insights from multiple credible sources while avoiding gut reactions.
3. Analyze and evaluate the data: Test the information for accuracy, relevance, and reliability to filter out noise.
4. Consider alternative viewpoints: Look at the issue from different perspectives and actively check for personal biases or hidden assumptions.
5, Draw logical conclusions: Connect causes and effects based purely on the evidence to formulate potential solutions.
6. Communicate the solution: Share your decision and the factual rationale clearly with others involved.
7. Reflect and learn: Review the results after implementation to see what worked and improve future reasoning.
~~~~~~~
Inter-American Development Bank
Why Is Critical Thinking Important?
Critical thinking is a skill that has applications in practically all aspects of daily life. It can help you make better decisions, improve employability, and better understand the world. In other words, critical thinking is a fundamental skill for being a 21st-century citizen.
What Is Critical Thinking Used For?
Critical thinking has various functionalities in everyday life, whether in fulfilling professional obligations or carrying out personal activities. Thinking critically is used to:
Make good decisions: it is important as an exercise to analyze and evaluate sources of information based on their truthfulness, relevance, and reasoning, which leads to better decision-making. Ask or question before blindly accepting things as they appear, and form your judgment based on the facts, information, and knowledge available.
Solve problems: use logic and reasoning to
analyze and deconstruct problems and choose the best solutions considering the
weaknesses and strengths of each alternative solution.
Promote creativity: this is one of the main characteristics of critical thinking and is associated with the previous point, by questioning facts, theories, or concepts, space is also opened up which is very useful for developing new solutions to problems.
Improve employability: especially in the digital age, where many jobs are being automated, there is consensus that critical thinking and creativity are two fundamental skills for improving people's employment prospects.
Digital and global citizenship: Critical
thinking plays a role in individual well-being, but above all, it is considered
an essential pillar of the functioning of modern democracies. The
ability to voice an independent and well-founded opinion to vote and weigh the
quality of arguments presented in the media and other sources of information.
In addition, when misinformation, fallacies, and fake news can be a problem for
democratic systems, critical thinking helps prevent the spread of false
information. It contributes verified, respectful, and ethical content to
digital communities and social networks.
~~~~~~~~
Richard Feynman famously said, “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.” Science is how we correct for this tendency toward self-deception. That’s why I spend the first third of the semester exploring how we come to our beliefs, the limits of our perception and memory, the importance of skepticism, the cognitive biases that can lead our thinking astray, and the logical fallacies we use to convince ourselves (and others) that our conclusions are justified.
Influential voices in the skeptical community played a crucial role in shaping the ingredients of critical thinking I use in Science for Life and Thinking Is Power, which include the following:
Being aware of our limitations: Understanding that our perception and memory are flawed, and the biases and heuristics our brains rely on to make fast and easy decisions can lead us astray.
Arguing with evidence and logic: Using arguments that are well-structured and supported by evidence. This includes understanding how the different types of arguments work (i.e., deductive, inductive, and abductive) and avoiding logical fallacies.
Thinking about our thinking (metacognition): Actively examining and questioning our own thought processes—including the source of our knowledge, assumptions, intuitions, motivations, emotions, and biases—and how they might influence our judgments.
Embracing nuance and uncertainty: Avoiding the black-or-white thinking that can lead to oversimplified conclusions and accepting that our knowledge is never perfect or complete.
Seeking objectivity: Actively working to counter the limitations that prevent us from accurately understanding the world. This includes seeking diverse perspectives, separating our identity from our beliefs, and prioritizing accuracy over ego.
Having curiosity and open-mindedness: Possessing a desire to learn and understand by asking questions and seeking out information, even if it contradicts what we want to believe.
Maintaining healthy skepticism: Balancing gullibility and doubt and proportioning our beliefs to the available evidence. And remembering that claims made without evidence can be dismissed without evidence and extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
Exhibiting intellectual humility: Recognizing the limitations of our knowledge, being open to the expertise of others, and being willing to change our minds with evidence.
~~~~~~
We finally arrive at the "prime directive" and core value of critical thinking.
"Willing to change our minds with evidence". This is the unattainable basic requirement for critical thinking that eludes the authoritarian personality and MAGA mindset. I'd wager that not one Trumpist has read this far, yet will dump their willful ignorance, hate, and stupidity in response.
Any takers?
Posts
69 comments:
An impressive post. You put a lot of meat in its content, all accurate (truthful)(. It will be interesting to see the responses from MAGAs who visit. If any do. They'll all probably experience a headache reading it. I f they actually try to make it through it.
Les,
Of course they won't read it, let alone understand the content of the post.
So you won't take my bet? :-)
Les... many of Dave's other commenters apparently can't read. At least based on their responses to the posts.
You of course are right. It took me a few years to evolve my od beliefs. And it happened ONLY because I sensed the errors in my thinking and had the desire and will to go through the struggle of deconstructing the wall of bullshit. I doubt many die hard trumpists would ever recognize they're in a cult of delusion and hate.
Critical Thinking indeed. Just like some of the Progressive on this very board. that the criticism of Israel is not antisemitic. Of course, that is too broad a statement, as criticism of Israel often IS rooted in Jew-hate or used as a way to couch antisemitic sentiments.
So, in what ways does criticism of Israel cross into antisemitism? Among them are:
1) By denying Jews the right of a country of self-determination, such saying “Jews should go back to Europe” - an offensive suggestion given that the region exterminated 2/3rds of them.
2) Comparing Israelis to Nazis or Jews to Hitler.
3) Using the code “Zionists” instead of Jews when the vast majority of Jews support Israel’s right to exist.
4) Applying double standards to Israel by criticizing it for actions that other countries do, without criticizing those countries.
5) Obviously, spreading conspiracy theories such as The Greater Israel Project or that Israelis are killing Palestinians to harvest their organs.
6) Ascribing evil to Israel, such as claiming Israel is doing the work of Satan (a hateful accusation I’ve recently seen on this forum).
There are many others, but I haven’t had my coffee yet. This is just a start.
Who wants to read a LOAD OF PROGRESSIVE PROPAGANDA BULL SHIT? No one !
Still too stupid and hateful for civil debate and discussion of any of my points? Figures.
Not reading is what makes people ignorant. Not being able to form a rational case is stupidity.
No critical thinking is demonstrated on your part again, Anonymous.
Let's see if you can apply any reasoning at all.
Is criticizing Trump or America "anti-American"?
Would comparing war criminals of any nation to Nazis be unreasonable? Why are ONLY Israeli war criminals exempt from the comparison? Double standards?
Are anti-Zionist Jews "antisemites"? Was Einstein an antisemitic Jew? He supported a cultural Jewish homeland in Palestine as a refuge, but he strongly opposed the creation of a separate Jewish nation-state and criticized aggressive Zionist political positions.
We all know you refuse to answer questions because you are INCAPABLE of critical thinking.
My words that your DIDN'T read:
I believe it would have been a better idea to allow the European Jews to move to the United States instead of displacing Arabs in Palestine. (Am I still being antisemitic?”)
From the Times of Israel:
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-greater-israel-idea-history-and-modern-implications/
In conclusion, the idea of Greater Israel still exists as a dream among a certain Jewish ideological current, and perhaps this is why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared his solidarity with it.
Perhaps you should have some coffee, although I don't think it will clear your head of bullshit.
Did you read this far? Blink twice for "yes". ;-)
Anon stated... "Applying double standards to Israel by criticizing it for actions that other countries do, without criticizing those countries."
Are there other countries that have committed systematic destruction of infrastructure and have killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians of a country in the modern, post WWII era?
I'd be interested in seeing what countries you're thinking of...
Then tell us why Anon, why you bother to show up here? By your own admission, you don't or won't read the posts. No one is forcing you to come here,. show you can't or won't read, not be able to comment on what's in Dave's posts and attack people.
You do it all by choice. Your right in our great, free country.
They show up to spew hate. It gives them a hit of adrenaline and cortisol.
And it makes them FEEL superior in their cult of hate and lies. They think they're "owning the libs", but they just come off as ignorant fascist idiots.
Learning, certainly critical thinking skills, was halted for many MAGAs the moment they threw their hats jn the air following their high school graduation ceremonies.
It's not they are stupid or incapable of critical thinking or intellectual growth, it's they chose to not grow intellectually or emotionally. Why? Because it is too uncomfortable and hard to do the work that is neccessary for growth. That and they WANT to believe their conditioning and long held reified beliefs.
Liberals and progressives suffer from that mind conditioning far less.
It's horrible , and disgusting that people can't even have a debate with someone without being murdered. Or some Violence comes out of it!! A debate is to express ideas and opinions and learn from each others point of views. Not for violence. What has this country come to? Praying for Charlie's wife, family and friends.. And for our Country . And let’s hope that these crazy Democratic Party and their Leaders gets some Sense in their heads
"Death to America". Feel better liberals?
How noble of you Anonymous! I'm so happy you're finally denouncing Trump sending a violent mob to storm the Capitol, terrorize Congress, and beat cops bloody to overturn an election he clearly LOST.
How much money do you think the deserve for being Trump's THUGS?
Feeling a tad unhinged this evening?
Dave... anon @ 10:13 perfectly illustrates to fallacies of the rapidly declining MAGA base. No one here wants to see America die. No one here wants to see America fail. And unlike former GOP Leader McConnell, I don't even think most of us wanted POTUS Trump to fail either.
Because of what we are now seeing.
-US standing in the world is at it's lowest point since WWII.
-We are not respected around the world.
-We've won the battles and lost the war for the Middle East through our Iranian folly.
-The presidency has become a branch of Trump Inc.
-The Federal government has taken ownership and control stakes in multiple US companies.
-Our military is suffering mechanically, we've had US bases overseas destroyed and rendered unusable.
-Our weapons stockpiles are dwindling daily.
-Our debt is soaring, blowing past $40 trillion just last week.
-Inflation is up. gas prices are up.
-The US strategic reserves are at their lowest levels in over 40 years.
And as all of this mounts, our president is building arches and renaming lakes.
The marks of a Failing Empire seem to be growing and becoming more visible almost daily.
750 military bases around the world is insane. China has 1.
The tipping point, where national debt exceeds the GDP has been reached under trump 2.0.
And his party (elected members of his government) seems not to care.
If the nation does not vote, and vote heavily democratic and progressive in 2026 and 2028 this nation, as a relatively free and democratic nation under the rule of law may very well be finished.
I used to be an optimist. trump and the gop has changed that inclination for me.Big time.
MAYBE ONE DAY YOU WILL STOP BUYING THE CRAP DISHED OUT BY. THE LEFTIES AND THE COMMIES OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST COMMIT LEFT.
UNTIL THRN CHERIO
Anonymous must believe critical thinking is a commie plot. LOL!!
And why not? He believes Trump's Big Lie that he won in 2020, but the "massive voter fraud" they could never find is why Biden won. Who needs to make sense, anyway?
This is the gullible ignorance and hate that makes them buy into the racist lie, "They're eating the dogs in Springfield!"
So, "CHERIO". LOL!!!
ID BELIEVE HIM BEFORE ID BELIEVE YOU DAVE!
ANYTIME!
We know, Anonymous. We know. This is why you're in a cult where you dare not think for yourself or criticize your Lying Leader.
The funny think is, we understand your cult way better than you can comprehend objective reality, scientific facts, or even what critical thinking is.
You didn't even read what I posted. You FEAR critical thinking. You're AFRAID I may be correct and you're terrified to face the truth because it would shatter your cult-like worship of you malevolent mendacious messiah.
Ignorance is your bliss, and source of all your hate.
What is the difference between the socialism of DSA and Nazism socialism?
You mean the difference between Democratic Socialism and Nazi fascism.
Hint: Democracy and voter rights for starters.
Use some of the critical thinking I just laid out and get back to us.
A better question is, "What are the similarities between MAGA and NAZI fascism?" Hint: racist white nationalism, one party rule, authoritarian leaders, Loyalty over competence, a party in lock step with its Fuhrer, coups, war crimes, scapegoating minorities, shooting protestors, accusing opponents of being communists, secret police, and concentration camps, to name a few.
Feel free to research and discuss.
Waiting anxiously to read anymouse's In depth response. Knowing full well there won't be one.
LOL!
Dave Dubya your entire post above is PURE and SIMPLY BULLSHIT. And you know it. To say that Donald Trump is NOT SO and you know it. Your entire history of Slamming the President is a Big Lie. You have been doing the same Crap for years and it never changes. Maybe one day you’ll get as tired of doing it as I am for hearing it. GET SOMEONE NEW and while you’re at it, Get A Life.
Feel free to kiss my ass . And perhaps in Macy's Window.
Wake the hell up Mr. Trump love! And all you MAGA’S as well .
Nobody wins wars anymore especially in the middle east. We defeated Japan and Germany then paid for them to rebuild. We spent billions of dollars a and many years in the battle with Afghanistan then ran away and gave them billions in weapons to arm them for the future. Vietnam was a disaster now they are selling us Tee shirts and is thriving from it. The bombing don’t do diddily anymore.
Correct, Les.
The feeble MAGA mind is incapable of critical thinking. They prove it all the time.
Anonymous is in a cult. He has been taught to believe the big lie and won’t take the time or find the courage to seek the truth. Hypnotized by Trump.
Once more I offer a format for Trumpists to display their critical thinking skills and show us how smart they are.
I WELCOME any information that would indicate I am mistaken, misinformed or flawed in my reasoning. Please set me straight. Here is a handy and simple format to make it easier for anyone to offer their informed and reasoned refutation.
“Dave, I have to say you are stating falsehoods by claiming (_____) and (_______). These verifiable facts and documented evidence (_____) and (____) suggest you are quite mistaken.
Anyone?
Bueller?
Bueller?
How many posts has Dave refused to publish? Why?
Liberals are afraid to or can't answer any question about the policy's they support. I'd like to see Dave and his 4 man crew deal with facts that socialism is a failure. Since Dave won't publish it boils down to his word. Can we trust Dave to tell the truth? Maybe he can explain why Americans aren't fleeing to Cuba to escape evil Trump? Maybe Dave and his crew can move to Cuban, and report back how wonderful life is there.
Not gonna happen as Dave and his crew are so filled with hate towards conservatives, Trump and MAGA they would be to busy, and their doing so would open them to a lack of "critical" thinking. Critical thinking and liberalism, I'd love examples of that happening.
Anyone?
Bueller?
Bueller?
Vern,
How many of your comments were relevant to my original posts? How many were hate-filled personal attacks?
You finally got so far as to mention the title of my piece and avoided name-calling. See the way it works?
Stop projecting your lie about us not answering questions. You NEVER answer questions. You just spew deflections, hate, and Trumpist lies.
How can you trust me to tell the truth? I verify and apply reason and cite facts and evidence. It's called critical thinking. I do it all the time. No wonder you have no clue about it. You HATE reading what I post. In fact you AVOID learning about it, and I'm betting you didn't even read the definitions and applications I discussed. You NEVER do.
I have provided an easy critical thinking formula for you to dispute what I say. You FAIL every time.
And people have been moving out of this country.
https://immigration.ca/why-more-americans-are-quietly-choosing-to-move-to-canada/
Why More Americans Are Quietly Choosing To Move To Canada
Why would anyone hate conservatives? They give huge tax cuts to the rich while cutting food and healthcare benefits for the poor. They start wars that cost us lives and treasure. They favor secret police who shoot protesters and lock up non-violent people in concentration camps.
Conservatives always support the cruelest applications in government policies. These hypocrites will claim to be "Christian" as the support the exact opposite of what Jesus told them.
“Socialism is a failure.” Where? You can’t even offer a definition on what type of socialism you’re talking about. (Don’t even try to say communist dictatorships are democratic socialism.)
Are Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid socialism? If so, they have been both popular and successful in providing for the general welfare as our Constitution mentions.
Is government ownership stakes in companies socialism? Then Trump is the most socialist president in history.
https://www.cato.org/blog/government-ownership-stakes-companies-becoming-routine-under-trump
July 30, 2026
Government Ownership Stakes in Companies Becoming Routine Under Trump
The Commerce Department announced this week that six more companies are set to join the federal government’s rapidly expanding corporate portfolio, bringing the total to 30 by our count.
(These include US Steel, Westinghouse, Intel, IBM/Anderson, etc. The latest is Trump’s planned government acquisition of major ownership of a private Venezuelan oil company.)
Perhaps most striking about the announcement is how unremarkable government ownership is becoming.
Republicans warning that communists are taking over the Democratic Party might first ask why their own administration is so eager to have the government acquire pieces of private companies.
I'm betting you will IGNORE all of this. Why? Because critical thinking scares the crap out of you and your cult of fascists.
Well Vern/Anon or whoever you are... no one is moving to Cuba, because it's a failed state. And it's governed by a bunch of commies, not socialists who believe in democracy, as they do in many of the fine European countries POTUS Trump has named for hoped for immigrants to the US.
That said, numbers do not lie. In 2025, over 180K US citizens made the decision to leave the US of A. That's the highest number since the Great Depression in the 1930s.
What could be driving that?
Get beyond your reflexive responses. Nobody here hates conservatives. In fact, I think Dave and Les would join me in saying we all believe the US should be working to lower the deficit AND balance the budget, as Pres Clinton did with the GOP led Congress in the 1990s. Those are real conservative values.
But we expect a POTUS and a GOP that is honest and treats our allies who have stood by us with respect. We expect a government that works with allies for the betterment of not just America, but the world. We want a government that sees immigration as good for America, helps pay our bills and helps us grow our economy.
All of those values I've mentioned above are values President Reagan espoused, shared before the American people and the world multiple times.
What about you? Can you support those values of Fmr. Pres Reagan?
Dave is at it again. Literally lying his ass off to cover up the once again FALED Democrats. And their Leaders who try so desperately hard to cover up the IDIOTS and the IDIOTIC POLICY of the Party. As well as the filthy and corrupt lies of. Hakeem Jeffries
"Deplorable" is DY's only honest word.
He's too hateful and stupid to cite a single so-called "lie". (There are none. This is why he can only make his deplorable and idiotic accusations.)
Hey, DY,
Try using the handy form I provided. See how you're neither bright nor informed enough to do so.
As expected Dave once again deflects.
If socialism is so great why aren't Americans moving to CUBA? Because, and all please note, Cuba is a failure. Socialism is a failure, it must have the rich to fund their failed policy's. Without capitalism, without other people's money, socialism fails. Can you give us an example where this is not true?
So Dave and your gang, when are you moving to Cuba or Canada? Living the dream?
When?
This is the same bullshit the MAGA cult always throws out.
He's too ignorant to know the difference between democratic socialism and communist dictatorships. He's even too ignorant to know the difference between Cuba and Canada.
I hope he faces medical expenses that would have been covered in Canada, but will bankrupt him in his "capitalist paradise" where more people are hungry and homeless than in any Western democracy with SOCIALIZED health care.
Say, where IS that healthcare Trump promised in "two weeks", anyway?
LOL! Who cares? He and every Republican in office has it. Anonymous doesn't. Poor baby.
I note, communism is the ultimate end point in Marxist philosophy. A classless egalitarian society where the coercive force of government is unnecessary.
Indeed a rather unrealistic and impractical utopian dream. Given the demonstrated shortcomings of humankind.
Socialism accepts democratic self government based in majority consensus and the rule of law.
Socialism, unless in an authoritarian dictatorship in which the ruler, Fuhrer, president ect, and the party elite determine economic, social, and government policies arbitrarily, without any real consideration for the needs of the people believes in the equality of all and that the nation's wealth should serve to benefit all people rather than the few. As presently exists in the USA's mixed capitalist and socialist economy.
With the MAGA "conservative" fascist movement the trajectory of te government is towards more top down authoritarian control with. more and more power being concentrated in the hands of the president. IE: towards dictatorship and rule by personality.
So, conservatives, if you can, help us understand, preferably with receipts, where this view is mistaken.
Thank you in advance.
Les,
Even IF they could respond, it would be at the level of 12 year old girl who doesn't get her way.
Robert Reich reports on how our glorious "capitalist paradise" trickles UP to the economic elites and leaves working Americans behind.
No wonder democratic socialism is more popular than ever.
"Target paid its CEO $21.8M last year — 794x the median Target worker's pay of $27,506.
Target has also spent $13.9B on stock buybacks since 2019, while remaining among the largest employers of Medicaid and SNAP recipients in America.
This is what I mean by a rigged economy."
Reich:
I still come across people who believe Trump won the 2020 election, that the attack on the U.S Capitol on January 6, 2021, was an act of patriotism, that Trump’s subsequent indictments and felonies were Biden’s work, that most immigrants are criminals, that Democrats are evil, that Jews are trying to replace white Christians born in America, that Muslims can’t be trusted, that a significant amount of voting is fraudulent, that we’re winning the war against Iran, that the economy has never been as good, that climate change is a hoax, that Canada poses a threat to the United States and it’s only fair for Lake Ontario to be renamed Lake America.
To label these people “deluded” is to overlook an entire world created by Trump and his assistants, Cabinet secretaries, “spokespeople,” other political appointees, Republican enablers in Congress and state legislatures, and billionaire accomplices in the media (Musk, Murdoch, Pichai, Bezos, Zuckerberg, the Ellisons) — all of whom have reinforced Trump’s “artificially fabricated insanity,” as the philosopher Hannah Arendt once termed the technique of totalitarian tyrants.
Google, for example, just updated its Maps application to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America.” ** (It’s already relabeled the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.”)
Totalitarian movements, Arendt wrote, succeed not by convincing people of a specific lie but by creating a consistent, logical fictional world that defies ordinary common sense and human experience.
Arendt describes the MAGA movement exactly as it really is. Millions of adult Americans living in a fictional reality created by the charlatan donald j. trump. A massive cult of sheeple willing to accept literally anything their "savoir" tells them. While he laughs heartily as he collects his billions made since his reelection.
Conservatism, sociopathy, fascism, dictatorships, MAGA, and other authoritarian personalities and movements are characterized by a lack of conscience and empathy.
“The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy, the empathy exploit,” Elon Musk said. “There it’s they’re exploiting a bug in Western civilization, which is the empathy response.”
This is what I’ve been saying all along. It’s the absence of empathy in authoritarians and oligarchs. This is what gets people killed, abandons the sick, and punishes the downtrodden.
Christopher Armitage is an Air Force veteran and researcher in psychology, law enforcement, and public policy.
D. Carl Brown is a clinical psychologist who studies empathy and personality in political behavior.
This is the description of their book, Conservatism: America’s Personality Disorder.
https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Conservatism-Americas-Personality-Disorder/dp/B0FHX3MTNG
CONSERVATISM: AMERICA’S PERSONALITY DISORDER
Conservatives often defend policies that feel hard-hearted. Why?
Christopher Armitage and D. Carl Brown argue the root problem is a measurable empathy gap, not mere ideology.
Their concise analysis shows how this gap drives positions on poverty, immigration, pollution, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ+ equality, hurting millions while claiming virtue.
Grounded in psychology and real-world data, this book reframes the culture war and offers a path toward compassion-led politics.
My realization as to the problem with conservativism, conservative politics, capitalism, authoritarianism, Empire Christianity, and Zionism came not through western philosophy and psychology, but rather through the study and practices of West Asian and Eastern spiritual traditions. Where compassion, empathy, and deep inner knowing are more deeply rooted than in the fiercely capitalist west.
I, me, and mine seems to be the Mantra of the highly materialistic and self centered west, especially the USA. Which has reached new intensity and determination under trump, his regime, and his party.
George Harrison's "I. Me, Mine" was a powerful message.
Lennon's "Across the Universe" preceded it with its own beautiful lyric for contrast.
Les, so the problem is the " fiercely capitalist west." How so oh wizard of leftist smart? According to Linda Li, the Joe Biden presidency is to blame for the rise of radical socialists in the party.
The Atlantic’s Jemele Hill tried to slide this anti-capitalist talking point onto CNN last night, and it was thrown into the furnace in seconds. Guest Kmele Foster went line by line, explaining that capitalism is a social good and has generated more wealth for nations than any other economic system in human history. Also, slavery predated capitalism, so this ‘it’s soaked in white supremacy’ nonsense was not tolerated by Mr. Foster. It was quite the takedown.
Dave you gonna publish this?
Anonymous, See what happens when you don't resort to hate and name-calling?
Capitalism is great for the rich and well-connected. Not so great if your lower working class, sick, and uninsured. The wealth gap along with the tons of money used to buy politicians serves only oligarchy, not democracy and representation.
Almost ALL Democrats support the capitalist system. Many profit by it. The difference between them and Republicans is they want guard rails and regulations against the corrupting influence of money in politics. Abusing the power of the presidency for amassing personal, family, and crony wealth is not good governing. Democrats and socialists understand regulation of commerce, taxes, and provision for the general welfare, as written in our Constitution passes on benefits to Americans in need as well as to the general public. Rich people get to enjoy tax-payer funded stadiums in their luxury suites.
Republicans are taking us back in time, reversing all the progress made for the benefit of most Americans.
Former Democrat Lindi, not Linda, Li is a self-serving tool and fair weather political whore, going where the winds of big money blow. So obviously she would end up on FOX(R).
She learned shilling for Trump pays a LOT of money for spreading lies and bullshit.
She even gets called out by a Republican.
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-14690123/lindy-li-former-democrat-strategist-implodes.html
On The Will Cain Show, right-wing podcast host Wade Stotts took her to task for her changing position and called her 'delusional' for thinking she could go from Democrat fundraiser to Trump supporter.
Cain and Li discussed Democrats' hypocrisy on trade issues and tariffs in the past before Stotts attempted to rake her over the coals.
'Yeah, I'm not surprised at this behavior. These are people with no core beliefs. They just say whatever's most advantageous to them personally at that moment,' he said of Democrats, before turning to Li.
'You know, it's almost as bad as a person who raised tens of millions for Kamala trying to pass herself off as a right-wing influencer… the second her team loses. So I don't know what Lindy thinks about that, but just my opinion.
Li immediately shot back: 'I've been on Fox News for years saying that I'm a conservative Democrat. This is not a sudden switch at all. It's been a years-long evolution, and I've been warring against the leftist faction of the Democratic Party for years.'
Stotts continued in, saying he was stunned that Li had the gall to say the Democrats were hypocritical.
'It's hilarious to hear Lindy Li slamming Democrats for being duplicitous. She was a Democrat until five minutes ago. The only belief she's kept from six months ago is that she should be in charge of moving large sums of money. And that's it,' he said.
He added: 'If you think you're going to be able to avoid conversations about your loyalty, you're delusional.'
Stotts read out paraphrased versions of past opinions Li held - that Trump has a 'Christo-fascist' view of America, that Ruper Murdoch 'broke Democracy' and 'anti-woke is code for anti-Black' - and said 'now you're on Fox, talking about how fickle other people are.'
'Which version of you was the real version and why should we listen to you now?
And yes, slavery was a vital tool for generating wealth and power for Southern capitalists. It is the essence of white supremacy.
Critical Thinking? Or Critical Theory. Cuz the latter is pure woke bs Critical race or gender theory is the opposite. Its just an "anti" reality prejudice, of the anti-white anti-racist variety.
-FJ,
Thank you for your racist demonstration of the Dunning-Kruger effect!
Even Thomas Paine understood and expressed the ideals of socialism as it relates to The General Welfare. We he around today he certainly would have been a socialist.
BTW anymouse @ 3:35 PM, even Karl Marx acknowledged that Capitalism was far better than anything that came before it. He acknowledged that it created wealth and improved the life of certai people. He also realized the potential evils Capitalism was capable of producing. IE: great economic inequality. EXACTY what Capitalism has produced in the USA today. At this very moment. And it is growing in scope and depth almost daily.
So, vote DSA across the board. Unless yo wish to be a poor wage slaves with no safety nets forever.
No, dunning-kruger is trying to reason with guilt-pride obsessed bloggers with Comment Moderation turned on because their audience could be triggered at a moments notice requiring intervention by a PMC trauma therapist....
No. Get a grip, -FJ. Your sense of your intelligence and of human decency is far lower that what everyone else sees.
Thanks for confirming. :-)
Minus,
If you had the least bit of curiosity and interest in critical thinking, you'd have read where I was expecting your type of reaction.
Critical thinking. What is it? I’m sure to the MAGA mob mentality it’s some kind of insidious form of Marxism or "wokism". They would be wrong, as usual. Look at a Trump rally, where the Criminal President declares, “I love the poorly educated”. Their malevolent mendacious messiah can tell them any lie and they will believe it, regurgitate it, and even enforce it with violence.
Your leap into woke deflection validates my point. Thank you for confirming.
And there's certainly no reason to waste space here with idiots who don't even read my posts and call me "shithead" along with other intellectually immature imprecations. There is no reasoning with them, or you.
Perhaps this may help:
I WELCOME any information that would indicate I am mistaken, misinformed, or flawed in my reasoning. Please set me straight. Here are some handy and simple formats to make it easier for Trump’s true believers and supporters:
“Dave, I have to say you are being unreasonable or stating falsehoods by claiming (_____) and (_______). These verifiable facts and evidence (_____) and (____) suggest you are quite mistaken.”
Also, this:
“Trump really won the 2020 election, and here is the proof of massive voter fraud that Biden orchestrated to steal it: ___________.”
Here's your open invitation. Are you up to it? So far your fellow Trumpist avoid this like the plague and resort to name calling and inane questions. What are you guys afraid of? I mean besides immigrants, POC, "replacement", drag queens, transgender people, liberals, socialists, educators, scientists, etc.
By all responses so far it would be an extreme fear of critical thinking.
My comment clearly distinguished critical thinking from critical theory. But then you lack the intellectual honesty to acknowledge this, and thus conflate the two. For critical thinking requires thinking, and not just woke criticism of an existing thought, as critical theory does.
For critical thinking requires one to distinguish between acta and verba, the essential, and the non-essential. And woke concepts of race and gender (not sexual) identity used as the basis for critical theory today are entirely non-essential to critical thinking (Critical meaning essential, and not just 'anti"). As Hegel said... Thesis:Antithesis:Synthesis... not just Antithesis. It's a dialectic, not a woke monologue.
Dave, are you expecting critical thinking from -FJ? I mean, I know he can do it, I've seen it in response to posts on his own site. But never here.
If someone can't, or chooses not to simply tell us how the US Constitution defines treason, why should we expect him to show real intellectual honesty and rigor.
I guess it's because we are not worthy...
Yes, Minus, we know about your deflection to critical theory to introduce your fascist bugaboo into a separate discussion.
And you also seem to ignore all the qualities of critical thinking included in my post. Obviously critical thinking and "Thesis:Antithesis:Synthesis" require information and reason to even implement.
No wonder you need to deflect in order to avoid honest dialectic.
Remember when racists had to steal and pervert the original meaning of "Woke" into representing everything they hate about people who are different from them? Never mind the acta and verba of racist cops harassing and brutalizing Black Americans for "driving while Black"? Never mind their racist Republican gerrymandering attacks on Black Americans' right to representation.
No wonder they hate critical theory AND critical thinking. No racism to see here, folks. Just white nationalist "real Americans" defending their freedom to have all the power and brutal authority they crave to punish minorities and political opposition.
This hysteria and bullshit is just the latest example.
Attorney General Todd Blanche was on Fox News last night railing against "Secret School Gender Transitions," which Blanche described as a "pandemic that's happening in some school districts around the country".
Damn! I'd better stop donating scalpels and surgical supplies to middle school teachers.
This is the bullshit you Trumpists NEED to dupe the poorly educated who have no idea what Thesis:Antithesis:Synthesis, critical thinking, or critical theory are.
Hate, lies, and fearmongering are the default tactics of fascists.
Please feel free to use my template to demonstrate your critical thinking abilities. I think the format could help organize your thinking and ability to stay on topic. You're not doing so great so far.
El-Sayed is not only evil , but he is despicable. .And his friend Hasan Piker is also.
Well, critical thinking really isn't expected at blogs titled Dave Dubya's Freedom Rants... is it?
A rant is a long, loud, and angry speech or piece of writing where someone complains about something they dislike.
The dialectic needed for critical thinking and analysis can only be conducted in an atmosphere of caritas for the truth in the argument. Not from the rantings of the perpetually offended and oppressed.
Silly Anonymous bigot. Only evil and despicable people falsely accuse others without cause or evidence.
JC,
Such expectations of no critical thinking are always met by Trumpists.
They can be shown a convenient format to apply it, yet they are still utterly helpless to form cogent rebuttals or even to offer relevant information.
The authoritarian cult mindset always reacts defensively against anyone who challenges them to think for themselves, or who presents rational, evidence supported essays.
NO Trumpist has yet to add any truth to these exchanges. Deflection is their default. Authoritarian personalities HATE critical and free thinking and can only demand compliance and fealty to their authoritarian leaders. It is the authoritarian way. It is proven they will vote for an admitted sex offender and election interference CRIMINAL, as long as he hates the same people they hate. This is Trump's Fourth Reich. He's even emulating Hitler in demanding monuments named after him.
And look at his neo-Nazi rhetoric:
We will Root out the Communists, Marxists, Fascists, and Radical Left Thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country…
They’re poisoning the blood of our country. That’s what they’ve done.
Just a quick reminder for liberal Jews who voted to destroy America and Israel because you believed false narratives!
Let's hope you learned from your mistake and make better choices moving forward!
Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion.
Would you rather have the Black president or the white president?
I think they want the white guy.
Hitler did a lot of good things.
- Donald Trump
Dave... only evil and despicable do it anonymously, afraid to stand up and say it with their names. Just like the old rock throwers and cross burners of the KKK back in the day.
It wouldn't matter how it was phrased or presented -FJ. You've shown do real desire across multiple sites, for years to enter into any real discussions. So tell us, why should we care what you say.
Oddly enough, I've learned a lot from reading you, both in many comments and on your site. But I would love you to actually enter in somedays, as opposed to just dropping bombs and walking home.
Dave,
-FJ/JC doesn't want good faith discussion. He's not here to engage in critical thinking. He's here seeking attention and disruption. Critical thinking is the last thing he wants.
He'd rather BELIEVE Trump's bullshit than evaluate it with evidence and reason.
This is why he refuses to answer simple questions like, "Did Trump lose a fair election to Biden?" You can be he'd similarly deny answering, "Did Haitian immigrants REALLY eat the dogs in Springfield?" No, that's another favorite RACIST lie he will hold to.
This is the authoritarian follower personality as evaluated by John Dean in Conservatives without Conscience(The Cheney Regime era) and in Authoritarian Nightmare (The Trump Cartel era) co-written with Bob Altemeyer.
Despite reading all his favorite philosophy he still can't face or understand his own nature as clearly seen by anyone who is capable of critical thinking.
El-Sayed is not only evil , but he is despicable. .And his friend Hasan Piker is also., and add to that, SO ARE DAVE Dubya, and DAVE MILLER . They All are Democratic Socialist, COMMUNISTS.
Anonymous spews the same lies and demonization his Nazi role models used.
Remember when I asked for just ONE quote from a Democrat that espouses communism?
Guess who always FAILS.
He's too ignorant and hateful to even describe the "evil" he claims is in others, while his own hate and lies reflect his true evil.
In YOUR ignorance, stupidity, and seething hate anymouse you have absolutely zero understanding of democracy, socialism, or communism. So, you willingly regurgitate the steaming stinking bullshit that your Fuhrer trump tells you to.
With zero critical thinking power you enjoy your ignorance and blind loyalty to an asshole malignant narcissist, insurrectionist, rapist, and common criminal felon.
One of the proud deplorables you make your Fuhrer proud.
El-Sayed went to the people. Where is Rogers? Deciding which luxury yacht to take a break from his Florida luxury mansion?
El-Sayed:
A tornado hit Detroit's East Side last night so we came out to assess the damage and check in on the community. To support residents who need water, food, and batteries to get through the next few days, go to: afterthestormmi.org
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