September 29, 2008
Why People Still Vote for Republicans
Now that the Republicans have devastated the economy, robbed us of our life savings, eradicated our Constitution, disemboweled every government agency (and restaffed them with ideological idiots), devastated the environment, established a police state, ruined relations with most of the world, brought torture back into fashion, and have chosen The Ditz of the North for a position one mole away from the Presidency, one might begin to wonder how anyone in good conscience would still choose to be one.
Psychologist Jonathan Haidt thinks he has the answer -- it is because liberals and conservatives weigh the various aspects of innate moral values differently. From cross cultural studies, he has parsed out the "five foundations of morality" . They are: 1) harm/care (empathy) 2)fairness/ reciprocity 3) ingroup loyalty (tribal psychology) 4)authority/respect and 5) purity/sanctity (which can be attained by what you do with or put into your body). Sadly, he doesn't make judgments about which of these innate values are the products of higher consciousness and which are products of the primitive mind, but all of us here at Dakota certainly do. Is it any surprise that liberals value empathy and fairness over ingroup loyalty, authority and purity. We think not. Haidt also believes that his studies will lead to greater understanding between Democrats and Republicans. We think not.
Test your own morals if you feel so inclined. Then ask yourself if you think muttering "horseshit" before a national audience of 52.4 million people is immoral or just uncouth and impulsive.
Photo note: Ah, a metaphorophoto, however incomplete: Opening the folds of the fan of patriotism, a white flower for purity, green grass for empathy with the earth, and a beam of light to illuminate the subject.
Posted by Dakota at September 29, 2008 09:31 AM