Math, Logic, and Ideology

[Andrew Fletcher]

In the United States, liberals are regularly criticized for not having any fundamental principals. In contrast, conservatives have an ideological viewpoint that is based in moral absolutes. Conservatives know what they want while liberals are constantly changing their position based on circumstance.

Let’s apply this logic to math class. I love the number 5. It’s always been my favorite number, ever since I was a little kid. How would I do in a math class where I refused to consider any answer but 5?

I used to think that there were universally shared values between liberals and conservatives, coming out of the French Revolution-- liberty, equality, and fraternity. Reccent political developments and the resulting discourse have made me reconsider that assumption.

[Beer and Pizza]

[ QUOTE ]
I used to think that there were universally shared values between liberals and conservatives, coming out of the French Revolution--

[/ QUOTE ]

Where am I?

Did I stumble on the French version of 2+2?

Why would anyone base their principles on the one revolution that ended in utter failure?

I have always been amused how the French messed it up, while America succeeded.

England and Canada did a good job of evolution into solid societies too, while France and Germany and Japan had to go through their "dictatorship" phase and be rescued from the outside. As an aside, Iraq is sort of like a future France or Germany.

[Andrew Fletcher]

It's like some sort of alternative universe.....

[ QUOTE ]
It's like some sort of alternative universe.....

[/ QUOTE ]
What did you expect? If you mention France, even in an offhanded way, conservatives just go off. It's like a red flag for a bull, or like poking a dog in the butt.

[Andrew Fletcher]

This thread is great on so many levels.

[cardcounter0]

That would be 5 levels, right?

[QuadsOverQuads]

[ QUOTE ]
What did you expect? If you mention France, even in an offhanded way, conservatives just go off. It's like a red flag for a bull, or like poking a dog in the butt.

[/ QUOTE ]

Let's be more specific : it is a Pavlovian response that is the direct result of a campaign of intentional psychological conditioning. Right wing propaganda is specifically designed to induce these responses in its audience, and these responses are reinforced aggressively by the entire Movement.

And it's nothing new. They've been using this same conditioning tactic to suppress rational debate within their movement for literally decades. It is calculated, it is intentional, and it is (sadly) effective.

"Jane Fonda!"
*bark!bark!bark!bark!*

"Hillary Clinton!"
*bark!bark!bark!bark!*

"evolution!"
*bark!bark!bark!bark!*

"France!"
*bark!bark!bark!bark!*

This is how irrationalist/fascistic movements maintain their coherency and discipline. Watch for it in action on an AM Radio station near you.


q/q

(PS: and because of this, their answer WILL always be "five", because in the absence of functional reason they have to fall back on imperatives and absolutes handed down to them from Some Higher Authority).

[BluffTHIS!]

And how different is that from the liberal lemming response?

Liberals:

"George Bush"
*bark!bark!bark!bark!*

"limited restrictions on abortion"
*bark!bark!bark!bark!*

"tapping the oil in the ANWAR"
*bark!bark!bark!bark!*

"a republican president expecting to appoint judges to the SCOTUS who represent his own philosopies"
*bark!bark!bark!bark!*

"war in Iraq after their own lib leaders voted for it"
*bark!bark!bark!bark!*

[Cyrus]

[ QUOTE ]
Why would anyone base their principles on the one revolution that ended in utter failure?

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you referring to the 1789 French Revolution ??

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

You are saying that it ..failed. In what sense please? (Challenge: Try to respond without using the name "Napoleon Bonaparte"!)

Ane I see you are implying that ALL the other revolutions more or less succeeded!

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Beer and Pizza]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Why would anyone base their principles on the one revolution that ended in utter failure?

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you referring to the 1789 French Revolution ??

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

You are saying that it ..failed. In what sense please? (Challenge: Try to respond without using the name "Napoleon Bonaparte"!)


[/ QUOTE ]

Heres two much more evil personages than the eventual dictator you mention:

Georges Danton and Maximilien Robespierre.
[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]

Ane I see you are implying that ALL the other revolutions more or less succeeded!

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I only mentioned one other revolution, the American. Please read my posts, and now for some more grins....
[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]