Why do so many Americans want stupid presidents?

[Chancellor]

Quote by: JaneDoe321 Because America (in general) is proof that "Idiocracy" was not fiction, but prophecy.

Now that's an understatement!

[Chancellor]

Quote by: gela I've been asking the same question for years... Apparently intelligence isn't high on the priority list.

Most Americans don't like intelligent people because intelligent people are perceived as being know-it-alls, arrogant, pompous, condescending, etc. They want someone with whom they can just sit out on the back patio and have a beer. They want the Average Joe.

[Chancellor]

Quote by: butterbut Yes, but big words don't = intelligence. A truly intelligent person should be able to us simple words to get his point across. It works just a effectively. If he can't relate to his own people, how is he going to relate to other world leaders and understand global conflicts?

Are you saying Obama should dumb himself down for your sake and for the sake of a significant majority of Americans?

[grandpa]

Quote by: Chancellor Are you saying Obama should dumb himself down for your sake and for the sake of a significant majority of Americans?

Obama's pretty easy to understand, if you ask me. In fact, he's so easy to understand I doubt he will fade away into obscurity. Even if he doesn't win now, he could easily run again next time.

Grandpa h.

[Maryjane]

Quote by: butterbut Obama wrote a book entitled "The Audacity of Hope". I will never vote for him becuase I have know idea what the word audacity means. We may be idots, but its our country. He's supposed to represent us. If he can't relate to us he has no right to run the country.

Cheese and freaking rice! Turn that damn FOX News off!

[Winter wind]

Quote by: maryjane Cheese and freaking rice! Turn that damn FOX News off!

I don't think FOX is the problem. I think its our education system (The thing I pin everything on). But turn off FOX none the less.

[davedes]

Quote by: Chancellor Most Americans don't like intelligent people because intelligent people are perceived as being know-it-alls, arrogant, pompous, condescending, etc. They want someone with whom they can just sit out on the back patio and have a beer. They want the Average Joe.

Heh, considering Obama was the one smoking crack and marijuana in his younger days, I personally see him as much more of a 'have-a-beer' person than Hilary.

[Winter wind]

Quote by: davedes Heh, considering Obama was the one smoking crack and marijuana in his younger days, I personally see him as much more of a 'have-a-beer' person than Hilary.

Carl Sagan smoked marijuana. You can't make judgments about someone like that based on what they did in high school.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Winter wind Carl Sagan smoked marijuana. You can't make judgments about someone like that based on what they did in high school.

True.
A lot of people smoked marijuana in high school. Some are probably on your local school board.

Grandpa h.

[Winter wind]

A lot of people smoked marijuana in high school. Some are probably on your local school board.

I live in Hong Kong. Nobody smoked marijuana on that school board.

[sdbest]

Quote by: Chancellor Most Americans don't like intelligent people because intelligent people are perceived as being know-it-alls, arrogant, pompous, condescending, etc. They want someone with whom they can just sit out on the back patio and have a beer. They want the Average Joe.

Good thing Americans don't pick their surgeons that way. And surgeons have less responsibility than the president.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Winter wind I live in Hong Kong. Nobody smoked marijuana on that school board.

Are you sure? It does get around.

Grandpa h.

[grandpa]

Quote by: sdbest Good thing Americans don't pick their surgeons that way. And surgeons have less responsibility than the president.

Not necessarily.

Grandpa h.

[Winter wind]

Are you sure? It does get around.

hell no. The drug of Hong Kong is ecstasy. (Not up on your drug trafficking geography? :p)

[TheColdTruth]

Quote by: Winter wind Because they don't like feeling inferior

Best reply yet.

And I love how both democrats and republicans act elitist, their reasons for their elitism both being utterly non-based in reality. Both parties basically follow what their social groups tell them to think, the only people who actually think of the repercussions of their actions typically vote independant, or give in and vote for what they think is the lesser evil, because they know that in all likelihood doing the intelligent thing is never going to matter in a presidential race.

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: TheColdTruth Best reply yet. And I love how both democrats and republicans act elitist, their reasons for their elitism both being utterly non-based in reality. Both parties basically follow what their social groups tell them to think, the only people who actually think of the repercussions of their actions typically vote independant, or give in and vote for what they think is the lesser evil, because they know that in all likelihood doing the intelligent thing is never going to matter in a presidential race.

Since when does "independant" imply exercising a third choice?


There are just a few independant candidates, and they are almost exclusively former Democrats, or Republicans who offer little real difference, as opposed to being Libertarian, for example.


The whole 'independant" thing does little change the status quo, and that's what we're all here bitching about, right?


It's time for the independants to exercise that grey matter, and make some tough choices.

[TheColdTruth]

Quote by: Milton Bradley Since when does "independant" imply exercising a third choice? There are just a few independant candidates, and they are almost exclusively former Democrats, or Republicans who offer little real difference, as opposed to being Libertarian, for example. The whole 'independant" thing does little change the status quo, and that's what we're all here bitching about, right? It's time for the independants to exercise that grey matter, and make some tough choices.

I am closest to Libertarian/Constitutionalist. Pray tell what choices are you talking about?

[Thanatos]

Intelligence is scary. Watch horror movies closely because horror movie writers understand the psychology of fear; monsters come in two classes. The first class is Godzilla monsters that utilize brute force. Jason comes to mind also, as does any killer who manages it through raw strength and durability. They epitomize the fear of things and people who are simply stronger and tougher than you are.

The second monster variety is all the various manifestations of the evil mastermind. They win by manipulating and outsmarting the characters. Traps, stealth, scientific acumen, debating skill...there are a lot of variations. Think of Jigsaw from the Saw movies, or Emperor Palpatine.

The really great horror movies combine a bit of both. Frankenstein features both archetypal monsters and has been imitated endlessly. I also loved No Country For Old Men; Anton Chigurh is one scary creation.

Stupid people are relatively harmless. They couldn't orchestrate Mr. Jigsaw's warehouse basement if they tried; any trap they set will have been designed at your mental level. They can't try to take over the world because they don't know how. And if they're really truly stupid, you can manipulate them instead of them manipulating you.

Which is why America loves Presidents with goofy grins. Obama is a monster of the second type; he uses long words like audacity and would be able to beat a lot of Americans in a battle of wits. Imagine if Godzilla had a few classes in manners and anger management, put on a suit and tie, and was on the ballot as a serious candidate. No, that's a bad example; I'd vote for Godzilla because I don't like being on fire. But I think my point is clear; smart candidates scare stupid voters. Wise men don't know what its like to be thick as a brick, but bricks have even less clue what its like to be wise and fear dangerous unknowns.

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: TheColdTruth I am closest to Libertarian/Constitutionalist. Pray tell what choices are you talking about?

My point was that most "independants" just vote for the Democrat, or Republican closest to their position, but not along any particular party line.


That does nothing to further change.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Milton Bradley My point was that most "independants" just vote for the Democrat, or Republican closest to their position, but not along any particular party line. That does nothing to further change.

The Democrats and Republicans share the same party line on many issues, so it's no mystery why this happens.

Grandpa h.