Why is there such a strong anti-intellectual current in the US?

Question

I've heard that one reason why Gore was unpopular with so many people in 2000 was because he came across as pompous and intellectually arrogant, whereas Bush came across as just plain, simple folk. I've also heard that that was the reason why Adlai Stevenson lost during the 50s. I once also heard a conservative commentator say that we should depend more on Midwestern "common sense" rather than East Coast "intellect". It just sounded like empty political rhetoric to me, but I have to ask, what's wrong with being an intellectual and being erudite? It reminds me so much of high school, and I have to say that the nerds would probably have a better idea of how to run things than the dumb jocks.

Answer 1

We are very much agreed on this tangerine. Sometimes it seems we would rather have a good old boy attitude in the White House rather than intelligence. Clinton was an exception, so was Jack Kennedy. But they both had personalities that appealed to the people at large, and therefore their intelligence was a plus because it was "friendly" intelligence. They didn't seem to beat others over the head with their smarts, and I think that is what turns a lot of people off in this country to highly intelligent candidates. A lot of people who are extraordinarily gifted with intelligence are not good when it comes to people skills. They come off as high-handed or arrogant to the average guy walking the street. Intelligence alone doesn't appeal to people, it's got to be combined with a winning personality and way with people. That is Hillary's biggest problem and I don't know if she can overcome it. She's got a great teacher, that's for sure, but whether she can appeal to the masses on a purely visceral level is something else again. I, for one, hope she manages it.

Answer 2

I remember hearing someone say at one point that they liked Bush because he was just a 'regular guy'; 'one of us'. I don't WANT 'one of us' running the country. I want someone who is significantly more intelligent than me (as well as most of the population) calling the shots.

Unfortunately, the trade-off for being labeled as an intellectual is that you are likely socially inept. You can understand anything Stephen Hawking or Noam Chomsky says with ease, but you're probably completely unable to have what would be considered an average conversation with another human being. Therefore, the American public can't relate to you, and you have no future in politics.

America's popular culture contributes to our 'dumbing down'. Case in point? One of the most popular TV shows on right now is "Deal or No Deal", a game show in which the object of the game is to PICK A SUITCASE. No rationalizing, no knowledge requiring. Just thoughtless blind luck, and we lap it up.

Education in America, by and large, has been devalued and is. People want to talk about the "War on Christmas", there's a much more crucial war taking place, and that is the war on education. Major cities would rather spend billions to retain their sports teams by building them new stadiums, than to take that money and spend it on education.

The irony of that is the same ones who attend the games in that new stadium cry the loudest over jobs leaving the U.S., and going overseas to other countries. I'm singling out sports franchises, but there are many other examples if one just pays attention.

I'm not anti-sports, nor am I anti-lowbrow entertainment, but there is such a thing as priorties.

This has been going on for too long. America needs to embrace education, and level the playing field for everyone if we are to survive as a country. This isn't a red state thing, nor is it a blue state thing. It is an American issue that needs to be resolved by Americans, for Americans.

Answer 3

In this society if you'll notice, just like you used the high school analogy to question why people vote the way they do, intelligent people are just as respected as so-called nerds much more than in high school, because people mature, and learn that maybe, just maybe the nerds were on to something. Now if you are a pompous a*s*s, nobody likes'em.

Even though I'm a middle of the road Democrat, I too felt that Gore come across as arrogant, and stiff.

I like intelligence, I think intelligence is "sexy" (especially in the female species), but when the person thinks of themselves as better then other people, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth...

Answer 4

It doesn't seem to be an exclusive domain of the US. There's a lot of dumbing down in the UK as well. I think it has to do with the fact that educated people tend to think through things and make their own decisions based on reason, which is dangerous if your political policies are based on spin and soundbites, and involve going for the lowest common denominator.

I do find it odd that the right wing conservatives are the ones who are most against intellectuals, considering the only other "anti-intellectual" group in politics are the marxists.

Answer 5

There's always an anti intellectual current among those who aren't. The clever image manipulators employed by Bush have taken advantage of this tendency. The Christian right's rejection of the scientific world view has added greatly to this current, particularly since they got real political clout after 2000.

Answer 6

This is not my idea but something I also read on answers but I don't remember when or how or I'd link you.
Seems that's the way it is in American culture as a whole.Even a great hitswhow as friends(thanks to the person who came up with this first).Ross is the boring one,every time he says anything educated or about his work as a prof all the others laugh or sigh.
I had never looked at it that way but does popular media play a part in the problem you raise?

Answer 7

no longer genuine, there change right into a study performed on Tea celebration human beings and maximum of them have college degrees- more desirable than Liberals . Liberals opt for extra nutrition stamps- extra loose crap and funds for doing no longer something- dah. they're utilising 'oppression as an excuse. those human beings live contained in the previous, a number of them under no circumstances had to be equals they had to be extra efficient.

Answer 8

Because real thinking requires being able to see all points of view.
After 9/11, there was an outbreak of pagan nationalism, when might equalled right. People were either for the US or against it.

Lots of people, including myself, marched in anti-war protests. We were called pro-terrorists and traitors. But we just wanted to make sure war was the ONLY answer, before we began the killing and the spending of our resources.

Turns out we were right. And now, with all that has been lost in the name of thoughtless rhetoric and reckless action, we find our selves MUCH WORSE off, thanks to the Bush Administration.

Our military has thousands of pieces of equipment it can't repair or replace. We are weaker, not stronger because of the invasion.

And we are divided, almost down the middle.

Thank you for your intelligent question.

Answer 9

Pompous and arrogant yes, there was nothing intelligent about the way he came across.I believe the word you meant was childish.

Intellect is fine but if it is not grounded in common sense and real world hands on experience it makes the common mistakes all fresh students make,things don't go by the book.

Answer 10

people feel they can relate with someone more on their level (or who at least appears that way).. and don't go as far as to think about how they will run the nation.. they just feel secure.. we fear what we don't understand.. and in that light is why people vote against those they see as intellectually superior.