Vote for Bush? You ignorant fool!

So says Jane Smiley at Slate. Key quote from the piece:

Next, they tell you that you are the best of a bad lot (humans, that is) and that as bad as you are, if you stick with them, you are among the chosen. This is flattering and reassuring, and also encourages you to imagine the terrible fates of those you envy and resent. American politicians ALWAYS operate by a similar sort of flattery, and so Americans are never induced to question themselves. That’s what happened to Jimmy Carter—he asked Americans to take responsibility for their profligate ways, and promptly lost to Ronald Reagan, who told them once again that they could do anything they wanted. The history of the last four years shows that red state types, above all, do not want to be told what to do—they prefer to be ignorant. As a result, they are virtually unteachable.

I think instead of blaming the “other side” for ignorance, it’s time for a little introspection on the part of Dems to see how they have consistently gotten it wrong the last several elections. It is precisely the kind of thinking that Ms. Smiley exhibits above that can be cited as one of the root causes for Democrat loses year after year in the elections. The arrogance of some to believe that they are smarter and that if only the people who voted for Bush could just SEE what he’s done to our country, maybe they woulda voted different!

Newsflash: 60 million people in this country aren’t ignorant and hateful, Ms. Smiley. You, however, fall into that category quite nicely.