I think there's another difference. Many on The Right are what I now call "The Believers". These are people who do not just have a different political view, they believe in ideas as absolute fact, literally, in many cases, handed down by God Himself. This is what takes these people well past the day to day "business" of politics and onto a moral role that is truly dangerous. These people Believe that they, and only they, know The Answer and unless you are on their side, you are The Devil.
This is not politics, it's religion and it is aimed at a type of person who craves answers. Absolute answers. Someone who is frustrated with "different" kinds of people and ideas. Someone who wants to return to a period in US history, when "things were simpler - everyone knew their place" It's aimed at people who can not think independently. But what is interesting is the first and second level knowledge these people have of "The Facts". Sometimes it is impressive, until you look a bit deeper and see that either nothing is behind the first level or that the facts have been manipulated to support a larger concept. This may not be reserved for The Right, but the degree to which it happens, on SI for example, is amazing. Also what is amazing is the consistency of the ideas. Each and every person spouts the nearly identical party line. Even from the more sophisticated ones, it is all very cookie-cutter-ish, which is very interesting. The problem to me though, is that this kind of thinking and the consequences of this kind of thinking are well beyond the issues of Star Wars, schools and prescription drugs..
The Right promises absolute answers. There is no maybe yes, maybe no. "We, as The White Christians Who Know The Answer, Must Fight to Return this Nation from the Hands of The Devil". To me, this is why there is this entire moral element on The Right and the reason it attracts the kind of people it does.
I've come to the conclusion that there is nothing more dangerous in The World than The Believers.
I hope this makes some sense. I'll try again another time. |
