Many people (the vast majority IMO) are intellectual misers when it comes to political issues. They simply pledge allegiance to an ideological tribe, and then blindly adopt its package of issues and stances :
Susan identifies with the progressive tribe, so she must be in favor of A, B , C, and D, and against E, F, G, and H;
Peter identifies with the conservative tribe and must be against A, B , C, and D, and in favor of E, F, G, and H, ... and so on.
Whether these stances and issues are mutually consistent or not, whether there is some logic in it or not, whether there is some scientific evidence pro or anti B or F - it doesn't matter. Being pro-B or anti-F only means showing affiliation to one's tribe.
Just one example: if you want to belong to the progressive tribe, you have to be in favor of (and to show it to your comrades!) environmental protection AND of open borders / liberal immigration laws. Is there any logical connection between these two?
Sure, any devout progressive would be able to come up with some ad-hoc connection, just as any not-too-stupid conservative will be able to invent some connection between anti-abortion and pro liberal gun laws...
Human reason, as David Hume remarked, is the slave of passions. In the political realm, it is the slave of tribal allegiances.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.True enough. Human nature leans in the direction of mimetic desire, and it takes quite a lot of effort to achieve escape velocity.
skado
Level 9
May 25, 2022
2
It takes courage and strength to seek the truth for yourself, instead of just following the bandwagon and mimicing the majority of the human herd. Same with seeking and finding what is most positive for you, and hopefully also positive for the rest of society as well. What is positive for others may not be a positive choice or behavior for you, thus the benefit of not blindly mimicing the choices of the majority.
Human nature also, for most people, seeks the path of least resistance and the greatest convenience, as well as self-interest over the greater good.
The slave of tribal allegiances indeed. No wonder so many mindlessly vote for their tribe no matter how corrupt or deceitful their leaders are, and how they cheer for their tribe the same way as fans of a sports team...
TomMcGiverin
Level 8
May 25, 2022
0
There are exceptions. I am very much a member of the progressive left, but I have little patience or support for most PC stuff, simply because I don't also support censorship and I see how PC is used not only as a weapon by people who easily take offense to any criticism or disagreement with them, but is also used as a way to distract or substitute for fighting for or supporting economic equality or reform. I hate how the Dem Party is always substituting PC and identity politics for actually fighting any class warfare for the masses, and most voters are too stupid to see thru that, continuing to vote blue no matter how much the Dems sell them out on economic issues.
TomMcGiverin
Level 8
May 25, 2022
0
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