Richard Dawkins' take on Rick Perry

genkaku

Interesting observations by the scientist on the Texas governor and Republican presidential candidate: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/post/attention-governor-perry-evolution-is-a-fact/2011/08/23/gIQAuIFUYJ_blog.html

Talisman

What an idiot. This country is going to shit.

DharmaChakra

I consider myself a independent centrist/moderate(to the right I'm liberal). But these candidates scare me. In all honesty, I would probably prefer George Bush (my goodness I can't believe I'm saying this) to Michelle Bachmann or Perry or Palin. My god. It's an unbelievably embarrassing time for American Politics. What do you think Genkaku? Would you support Mitt Romney? I know you are a rez of MA.

Mountains

I still have a folder of emigration paperwork from New Zealand that I obtained in 2002.

DharmaChakra

Hahahahaha! If I hadn't been enrolled in University, I would've left in '04. But that was child's play compared to the latter.

Talisman

I'm half-canadian. My dad is getting me the citizenship paperwork soon. Gotta have that escape route ready.

DharmaChakra

Most individuals I talk to feel "embarrassed". I tell them "the least thing you have to be worried about is embarrassment and gaffes." Something tells me that they would practically be locked in the White House.

genkaku

@DharmaChakra who said: What do you think Genkaku? Would you support Mitt Romney? I know you are a rez of MA.

As far as I know, he has yet to take a position on anything. He does seem to know how to comb his hair, if that counts.

DharmaChakra

@DharmaChakra who said: What do you think Genkaku? Would you support Mitt Romney? I know you are a rez of MA.

As far as I know, he has yet to take a position on anything. He does seem to know how to comb his hair, if that counts.

Hardest I've laughed all day. Gassho. haha

zenff

I love Dawkins.

But the underlying question is not so simple to answer, I think.
The democratic process does not guarantee that capable leaders will emerge to take charge of a country.
That much is proven and it’s not just the case in the USA, I’m afraid.
Is that something we simply have to accept? Is it something we can ignore?
Can we improve the process? Are our democratic ways open to evaluation or is that a taboo?

I don’t have the answers, I just have the concerns. Every major election, the stupidity of the campaign scares me.

genkaku

Winston Churchill once said, "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the rest." When hearing such an observation, people living in democratic countries sometimes puff up with pride ... it may be bad, but it's not as bad as it might be. What they overlook is how bad it can actually be.

The French aristocrat, LaRochefoucauld, once wrote, approximately, "The intelligence of the throng is inversely proportionate to its number." However uppity, still the observation has some merit. Democracy is throng-based and, well, there's no saying that competence and clarity will float to the surface. In fact, in hard times, simplistic stupidity takes on an increasingly enticing aura ... the quick fix, the simple answer, and some unexpressed Tooth Fairy. Wear an American-flag lapel pin to assure your place in the patriotic throng.

Saddening, infuriating, depressing ... live and learn.

jupitermadcat

Part of the problem IMO is the 2 party system there needs to be more real choices for people.

Talisman

We need a wealthy philanthropist and scholar willing to sacrifice his wealth in order to create a new party based on ideals that are grounded in education, experience, intelligence, wisdom, and ethical conduct.

Not...
Going...
to...
Happen...

We live in a world governed by hatred and greed. Delusion is so overwhelmingly prevalent that nothing barring complete chaotic meltdown will lead to any substantial or meaningful change. Shit will hit the fan. It's only a matter of time.

Mountains

Part of the problem IMO is the 2 party system there needs to be more real choices for people.

No, the problem is that anyone smart enough to be in government and do anything worthwhile is far too smart to want to get involved in it. Thus, like a cesspool, the crap floats to the top.

Theswingisyellow

We need a wealthy philanthropist and scholar willing to sacrifice his wealth in order to create a new party based on ideals that are grounded in education, experience, intelligence, wisdom, and ethical conduct.

Not...
Going...
to...
Happen...

We live in a world governed by hatred and greed. Delusion is so overwhelmingly prevalent that nothing barring complete chaotic meltdown will lead to any substantial or meaningful change. Shit will hit the fan. It's only a matter of time.

Yah but when the shit hits the fan people look for easy answers and the demagogues who provide them.

When fascism comes to America, it will come wrapped in the flag and waving a cross.

Ch-an_noob

We need a wealthy philanthropist and scholar willing to sacrifice his wealth in order to create a new party based on ideals that are grounded in education, experience, intelligence, wisdom, and ethical conduct.

Not...
Going...
to...
Happen...

We live in a world governed by hatred and greed. Delusion is so overwhelmingly prevalent that nothing barring complete chaotic meltdown will lead to any substantial or meaningful change. Shit will hit the fan. It's only a matter of time.

This is the attitude that keeps "Greed, Anger and Ignorance" alive. It's "other people's fault!"

riverflow

I agree with the sentiment, "I'd prefer even Bush to Perry or Bachmann" (and I'm a far lefty-- I think Obama is conservative!). It also shows just how well the Overton Window has worked to push political discourse further to the right in this country, to the point that Reagan and Nixon would be regarded as "liberals" today.

http://www.correntewire.com/the_overton_window_illustrated

The Overton Window, sadly, has worked well for conservatives and I don't think US Americans still don't understand the ramifications and just how badly it has gotten, and how out of step the US is with the rest of the developed world.