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What is it about right-wingers that make them behave badly?

by Jon Faulkner 

OpEdNews.com

 I have marveled at the right-wings capacity for stubborn resistance to anything new and progressive. Here's a theory that may offer some small explanation for these creatures strange, destructive behavior.

What is it about right-wingers that make them behave badly? Could it be a DNA anomaly, or some ancient, genetic misfortune? Could they lack an essential chemical or enzyme they need for a healthy brain?

“Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people … it is true that most stupid people are conservative”.  John Stuart Mill

The difference between right-wing republicans and liberal democrats is a simple one. Republicans are essentially subjective while their liberal, democratic counter parts are able to see subjectively and objectively. Liberals can still see the forest regardless of the trees. Right-wingers can’t keep up with the learning curve due to their inability to reason objectively. This explains their fanatic determination to resist change. They call it conservatism. 

Right-wing, conservative subjectivity, in relation to politics, is irrational because right-wingers don’t welcome any point of view that isn’t in agreement with their own. The FCC, under Ronald Reagan’s de-regulation craze did away with the fairness doctrine. It had required broadcasters using the public airwaves to present opposing, objective points of view on issues of public importance. In effect since 1949, the Fairness Doctrine provided the standard for true, fair and balanced journalism. There have been bi-partisan attempts to re-introduce the Doctrine but they have been defeated by the neo-conservatives. Bush has promised to veto any legislation to bring it back.

Today, hate radio and shamelessly biased television programs like Fox News scream day after day, their one-sided, out of tune song.  Rush Limbaugh is terrified of the Fairness Doctrine. He calls the rule the “Hush Rush Bill”, and has convinced his gibbering “ditto heads” of a liberal conspiracy to bring it back. Limbaugh says the “Rush Elimination Bill” (is this a sub-conscious admission of the scatological character of his show?) would shut him up and he’s probably right for once. Confronted with intelligent and informed debate Rush would freeze like a bunny rabbit on the highway just before the tires go Thump! Thump!  Incapable of objective, rational thought Limbaugh and his mischievous right-wing pals are left with subjective, personal attacks and anecdotal evidence with which to argue. He would be slaughtered in public debate, hence his terror of the Fairness Doctrine.

Other examples of narrow, right-wing subjectivity abound. “Please don’t kill me” George Bush mimicked in a high falsetto during an interview with “Talk Magazine”. He was remembering a fond moment with Karla Faye Tucker and how she begged for her life. During his tenure as Governor of Texas he signed the death warrants of 131 people. Asked about his record Bush said, “We’ve adequately answered innocence or guilt in every case”. The defendants “had full access to a fair trial”. In Bush’s Texas, the trial is fair if the defense lawyer falls asleep while the accused faces the death penalty. A Texas judge ruled that courts are not “obligated to either constantly monitor trial counsel's wakefulness or endeavor to wake counsel should he fall asleep." In Dixieland, liberal democrats interrupted the fun the right-wing KKK enjoyed with blacks when they rammed the Civil Rights Act down their throats. The South has never forgiven liberal Yankees for making them stop decorating the trees with the mutilated, bullet riddled corpses of blacks. Today, they are as racist as ever but have become more adept at disguise. Trent Lott, neo-conservative from Mississippi, was forced to resign his position as Senate Majority Leader over blatantly racist comments he made in a speech honoring another un-apologetic racist, Strom Thurmond.  His comments were not by definition, a mistake. Trent simply doesn’t know any better. Right-wingers, utterly lacking in objectivity, firmly believe their point of view is the only one. This kind of narcissism allows their acceptance of a world that is reduced to simple right or wrong, with us or against us. Their enemy is easily identified. His beliefs and opinions are different. France disagreed with Bush & Co. so Tom Delay’s House of Representatives retaliated by re-naming French fries! That’ll teach ‘em! There is no remedy for their unethical and immoral behavior because they are incapable of critical, objective analysis.

It’s not at all surprising that neo-conservatives have destroyed the credibility of the U.S. all over the world. Bush doesn’t like bothersome treaties and he says the U.N. is irrelevant. His war on terror has resulted in such legislative gems as the Patriot Act, with its Sneak and Peek provision. Today, there are 4 states and 314 cities and counties that have passed resolutions defying the Act. There are 12 more states that have pending resolutions. Most frightening of all are Bush’s religious convictions. He is perfectly capable of pushing the nuclear button because he believes the Rapture is waiting for him. Born again, Christian fundamentalists (like Bush) believe they will rise straight up into the sky, leaving behind their clothes, when the Rapture calls them to Heaven. Once there they will watch while everyone else grapples with boils, sores, locusts and frogs. As usual, the same worn out and subjective rule applies. Those who don’t agree (everyone else on the planet) will suffer indescribable pain and slow death. Attorney General John Ashcroft and Tom Delay, Majority Leader of the House, are also born again. Happily, Dick Cheney is only fixated on stealing more money from the treasury. Pogo, infinitely wise said,  “I have seen the enemy and he is us”. Only a liberal democrat could possess the care and objectivity to offer humanity such a glimpse of itself.  Pogo’s insight is wasted on right-wingers. They lack any objective or intellectual means of applying such epiphany to themselves.

Jon Faulkner 

Jon Faulkner: Stockholm, ME, I think my political opinions took root when I was 12 years old.  I had gone from my home in Massachusetts to visit my relatives in Birmingham, Alabama.  I watched my relatives cheer the police as they attacked blacks with water cannon and dogs. I should have suspected something was up because shortly before arriving in Birmingham we had stopped for gas.  I walked over to a Coke machine that had 2 drinking fountains, one on each side.  One said “colored” and the other didn’t say anything.  I asked the attendant what color the water was.  He walked over to my Dad and jerked his thumb at me, and my Dad told me to get in the car.  I live in Maine now and I’ve always wondered what color that water was.