Studies show Republicans are smarter than Democrats (don't shoot the messenger)

Both Oxford and Yale have recently concluded that Republicans are smarter and more educated than Democrats.

>>>MOD EDIT Flamebait Video Removed<<<


Additionally, I'd like to reiterate what I posted in my last (now defunct) thread about the differences between conservatism and liberalism and the effects these ideologies have on the people who subscribe to them. First and foremost, conservatism allows people to be free. They can think freely. They can speak freely. They can enjoy what is genuinely enjoyable to them. And they can follow the evidence of any event wherever it leads to find the most plausible conclusion. This freedom of mind, body, and spirit typically produces a greater sense of general happiness overall. Happy people are more able to maximize their potential. Which results in them making more money and living a better overall quality of life.

Now let's compare that to liberalism. By and large, liberalism dwells on the negative. On the pessimistic. It actively seeks out perceived injustices, whether they exist or not. Because of this, it limits what people are allowed to see, hear, think, say, and believe. Every event has a predetermined negative conclusion centering around oppression. So the people wind up in a hopeless tailspin of anger, over-sensitivity, and a reactionary need to control others. This results in many of them being poor, spiritually broken, and even imprisoned.

So I think it's a legitimate question to ask; doesn't the evidence speak for itself? Isn't conservatism the superior ideology?

 

I think he is relying on the Oxford study done by Noah Carl? Is that correct?

If so, it is interesting to note that the elevated scores for Republicans in that study were attributed to classical liberals in the party (aka libertarians) bringing up the curve. Just thought I'd mention that.

 

Conservatism is based primarily on emotion, and shows an active hostility towards facts and evidence. Therefore, it's clearly inferior to the rational liberalism.

As an example, look at Unifier's post. He created some crazy stories about what the dirty liberals really believe. He felt it was true, so that made it true in his eyes. Such "gut feeling" reactions were probably useful when humans were being hunted by wolves, but they're downright dangerous in a technological world.

Look at the Klaven video. The guy makes large amounts of cash whining about conspiracy theories. Any rational human would just laugh at it, but conservatives love it. He appeals to their emotions and their sense of victimhood, and conservatives have no mental defenses against that.

Oh, Klaven misrepresented all the studies big time, but that's another topic. Probably over the head of most conservatives, being it involves numbers and other liberal plots.

 

that would explain the Republicans being more "liberal" than Democrats remark

 

I wouldn't say smarter, just having a greater array of facts to use.

Anybody who becomes part of the Democratic or Republican party is an idiot in my book.

 

Not some, as long as one of their organs is still living they are still alive, even if the rest of their body is 6 feet under and in decay. Life insurance shouldn't truly pay out till they are completely deceased.

If they can keep lungs going by machine someone could live for a very long time.

 

I never trust or put much stock in these types of studies. It doesn't take much to skewer the results to your liking.

 

As Frank Meyer showed in his work "In Defense of Freedom" classical liberalism is a huge part of the American conservative identity, and many of it's ideals are what we conserve here. We share that with our libertarian friends, which is why many of us don't have much problem with either label because our roots drink from the same pond.

Agreed.

 

Seems there is a definite problem with some conservatives cognitive abilities.

First Dr. kahan's STUDY:

http://journal.sjdm.org/13/13313/jdm13313.pdf

Fascinating read for those interested, but what is noteworthy is that he doesn't mention the tea party at all in it.


Then, there is this blog post on his work:

http://www.culturalcognition.net/blog/2013/10/15/some-data-on-education-religiosity-ideology-and-science-comp.html

I believe this chart that cognitively challenges some:




Only thing about his chart is that it is comparing tea partiers to OTHER CONSERVATIVES, not liberals.

Dr. Kahan readily admits that the fact that tea partiers are slightly more scientifically informed that other conservatives was a surprise since he had gotten is impressions of the Tea Partier from media and TP spokespeople.

He sure as hell didn't claim that conservatives were smarter than liberals or vice versa.

Why is it that so many people are willing to accept such distortions as fact..... could it be a kind of cognitive impairment or perhaps plain ignorance or that so many simply don't question outrageous claims made against their political/religious/cultural opponents?

 

As I have told you before I often vote Republican but I always vote for who I believe is the BEST CANDIDATE as I am a Fiscally Concervative Socially Liberal Moderate Voter registered as an Independent.

Now I don't know about you but there seems to be a LOT of Toothless Hicks who vote Republican for the sole reason of Religion.

As well there are a lot of Hip Hop Gang Banger Lifestyle Types who are not just Black as many are White, Hyspanic...etc....who could not ADD OR SUBTRACT if their LIFE counted on it!!

Now the supposed study you are presenting to the membership is bare upon having Scientific Merit or Controls.

In my opinion STUPIDITY RUNS DEEP within both Parties and both Ideologies.

After all....You can't fix Stupid!! LOL!!

But you CAN fix IGNORANCE!!!

Unfortunately those who are ignorant don't want to be fixed.

What would Jesus do?

AboveAlpha

 

My wife will be glad to hear that her brother who died 38 years ago and was cremated is still alive.

 

Yeah, but classical liberalism is a huge part of modern liberalism as well. Barring the Communist Party and a couple of other fringes, all of American politics derives from classical liberalism. That's why many Europeans think we are all crazy with our silly notions of "freedom."

What sets libertarians apart, generally, is that they usually operate from original principles whereas modern liberals and conservatives are more wishy-washy, to put it simply.

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You should invite him over for dinner and surprise her.

 

Won't even go there. There is no evidence that is believable that either proves or disproves that Conservatives are smarter that Liberals.
The biggest observation I have made between the two by reading posts on forums and news websites; is that Liberals attack comments made by Conservatives without offering their reason why or their own views on the posted subject. While Conservatives feel the need to offer their reasons for disagreeing with a liberals comment/view. So, I would urge Liberals to respond with reason and not just to "slam" every comment a conservative posts.

 

Bwahahahaahahahaha!!!!

 

There are enough holes in your argument here to rival a block of Swiss cheese. But I doubt you'd even care if I were to point them out to you. Because it's abundantly clear from your attitude that your mind is already made up. Which only reinforces the latter part of my OP.

 

[video=youtube;k0he0cqHH20]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0he0cqHH20[/video]

 

[video]http://conservativevideos.com/obama-supporters-sign-fake-petition-supporting-karl-marx-president-2016/[/video]

Obama Supporters sign petition to make Carl Marx next President.

 

Where's the link to the study? I'd like to see the methodology.

This'll be good.

I'd ask what part about liberalism prevents free thought, but I have a feeling your answer is going to be something like POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.

Come on man.

Yes. Conservatives never dwell on the negative. They never actively seek out perceived injustices. Yet in the video the guy wouldn't stop complaining about the LIEBERAL media.

I think you're super positivism (stemming from the fact that you're a conservative) prevents you from detecting even your own hyperbole.

THAT'S NOT TRUE. I COMMAND YOU TO STOP SAYING THAT!!

(Get it?)

I mean, who do you really expect to convince with this?

 

Do they vote?

[video]http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/05/29/south-won-civil-war-beach-babes-bomb-watters-world-memorial-day-quiz[/video]

 

Discussion boards such as this say something far different.

 

You have link to the source study? I found one that gives the abstract then wants $35 to see the whole study.

 

This survey has to be true. Remember the democrat party is made up of a large percentage on uneducated welfare drones that never even finished high school. Those entitlement types brings the democrat average way down.

What is funny is the democrat party created the uneducated entitled welfare drones!!!!!! Democrats created and wanted them as useful fools so they would vote democrat.

 

I think conservatives have a better understanding of the history of the United States, the philosophies that guided the founders, and what it takes to be good citizens. We understand that in order to maintain freedom, we have to set limits on government power. We understand the Enlightenment.

Liberals look to government to be our caregivers and nannies. They don't understand that the more they expect from government, the more power the relinquish to government, who then become their oppressor. Democrats don't know what the Enlightenment is.

 

MOD WARNING

Discussing Ideological differences is a great source of debate, but keep in mind that Rule 2 still applies. Do not denigrate and insult groups (liberals and conservatives are groups) or your post will be removed and warnings/infractions will follow. Lets keep this debate rational and respectful to both sides of the opinion isle.

 

The Two Party system is making America ungovernable.

Wake up and smell the coffee.

It's broken.

The average American citizen lacks critical thinking skills, they simply parrot the talking points provided by the party platform.

What is critical thinking you ask?

crit·i·cal think·ing
noun
the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.

The key word is objective.

People think about political issues based upon what one of the two parties tells them to think. There is no objective analysis, genuinely good arguments are dismissed because they don't follow one of the two party's lock-step adherence to strict party lines.

As a consequence, we get the government we deserve.