Are your political views motivated by superstition and ignorance?

Question

As I understand it, at least a third of all Americans still believe Saddam Hussein had WMDs, even though all the evidence has shown the contrary. A full quarter of all Americans still believe that 9/11 was a government conspiracy, in spite of the thousands of eye-witnesses, police reports, and independent investigations. How many people believe in astrology, UFO's, psychics, luck, karma, fate, fortune, angels, demons, gremlins, goblins, dragons, horoscopes, numerology, racial superiority, gender-based intelligence, and religious mythology? Most of the people I've met have demonstrated one of the above irrational beliefs.

Many of those people vote. If people are motivated by superstition and ignorance, how can they reasonably govern themselves? Religion, superstition, and unfounded conspiracy theories should have no place in the political world. Yet today, most governments in the world are not seperate from religion, and some are run by crackpots who don't believe in the Holocaust.

How can we as a society combat the corruptive and destructive influence of superstition and educate ourselves to combat ignorance?

Will fear of death, fear of an unseen god, fear of some devil or demon, or belief in the supernatural continue to persist in our society for all time, or will we outgrow the infancy of unfounded belief and adopt a more realistic perspective of the universe?

This is not a religion versus atheism debate. Whether or not there is a God is beside the point. Whether or not we should approach the world using reason instead of mythology, superstition, and faith is the whole point.

Our decisions and our government should be based on facts. Our political discourse will never improve so long as people cling to logical fallacies, superstitions, myths, and irrational beliefs.

Answer 1

I spends hours sometimes trying to explain to these people how completely stupid they are, but they won't hear it. These are the people a few hundred years ago that would have been the peasants and slaves, but here they are equal. It's sad in a way, they have no respect for the life they have, the freedoms, the security. If only you could show Americans just what they have, and what they could be living in, but they still wouldn't listen. This is just the way it is,and until we're reduced to some s*** hole third world country we just have to deal with their stupidity.

Answer 2

I find it really frightening when our public is sold on the propaganda news media even when the facts presenting themselves are completely different. The American people have become sheep. They do not question their government and comparing the 911 attacks to demons and goblins is just the same propaganda that Germany gave its public. History is repeating itself and if the dumbed down American public doesn't awake from its stupor soon it will be too late. In these times our forefathers that handed us the constitution would have risen up against the tyranny that has befallen us. However TV and its news media has convinced the people our government is good and everyone else is bad.
Lets take another quick look at your accusations there was not an independant investagation the investagation was headed by none other than an appointed bush cabinet member, over 60% of the New yorkers want a independant investagation. where are you getting your news from FOX?
Fear only closes ones mind and b y now if the puzzles havent fit in place for the closed minded people we will be doomed as a nation. Half of us will end up in Fema camps while the other hafl will be complete slaves to this war on terror.
Christ people its time to wake up things do not make sense and we continue to ignore real events and spend our time spending money that we dont have with credit and watching ball games while our kids are being fed antidepressants.
That is what we call dumbing the american public down.
Rise up, use logic research and be a patriot for gods sake and your childrens.

Answer 3

Generally, I base my opinions and beliefs on facts. Although I'm now retired, I still have friends in place that keep me in the know AND I follow historical facts.
WMD? Tough call. Reagan sold Iraq that technology. He used it against the Kurds (his won citizens) and the Iranians. Sarin was found in the Iraqi office at the U.N. just yesterday (in NYC). The first U.N. weapons inspector (as a part of the cease fire agreement ending Desert Storm), got absolutely no support from either the U.S. government or the U.N. and so, resigned in complete and utter disgust.
Carter gutted the CIA back when he was in office, left this country blind on intel and reliant upon the good graces of foreign intel. services.
The only "Solid" evidence as a pretext for war was an Iraqi Chemical Engineer who deffected to Germany. We were never allowed to question him directly. After the fact, he now admits he lied. If we would have been allowed our operatives way back when...
My IQ is significantly higher than the average bear's. Still, I have my regileous beliefs. I believe in the unexplanable. And I know I can't always spell worth a damned. Does that make me "superstitious?" No. That would fall under the heading of "luck." And, as luck would have it, that word never once apears in the Judeo/Christian Bible.
Conspiracy theories? Everybody loves a good one! If you want to hear mine some time. E-mail me. I'll leave you thoroughly convinced that I'm a "Dime Store Historian" -- As I was once called by someone wishing to insult me.

Answer 4

You have to consider that some people who practice religion or anything faith based don't see it as "superstition"; for many it is a way of life. Religion, faith, etc., for me is a relationship. A relationship with my God and a way to understand my world. This does not mean I abhore science; I am enjoy studying science. However, I do not let science guide my morals or how I treat people. I view those who fear or hate faith, religion, etc., have no understanding what it is to believe in a higher power, seen or unseen. I am a Christian and as such I believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ and have accepted Him. However, I am tolerant of those who do not share my faith. The God I worship does not force anyone to do anything, but allows that individual as such to make his/her own choices. I make my own choices by both reason and logic and by the laws set by my God. Thus, because God gave me a brain and ability to use reason and logic, I do so. Regardless of whatever someone chooses as their religion or faith, they made that choice. If that person worships Kali or Shiva or Buddha or Elvis or whatever, then that god is real to them. While I might disagree with someone's faith or political views, I would not call it irrational or ignorant. If this concerns you, you must ask why would someone believe in UFOs or Bigfoot or karma or whatever irks you. Indeed, you have asked a profound question and I hope you find an answer.

Answer 5

There is always two sides to every story, for instance the 911 conspiracy theory. We don't know the exact truth, but we have to go with what we feel happened. I personally don't think the government would kill thousands of our own people just to scare us. As far as Saddam, they did not find the weapons, but they did take a very evil man who killed and tortured his own people out of power. Some say it is not the U.S. business to go in there or other countries and help, but if you saw your neighbor was being beat up, robbed or raped would you not help them even if maybe you did not always get a long? Religion goes hand and hand with politics, people vote based on their beliefs whether moral or religious. For instance, it is my belief that thou shalt not murder, therefore I refuse to vote pro-choice or as I call it pro-death!

Answer 6

No. My views are solidly formed based on reading, listening, asking questions, and research. I wish everyone in this country could say the same. I have a neighbor who only votes the way her husband tells her. Now that is a person I wish wouldn't vote. But it has always been thus.

Answer 7

Saddam wasn't caught with WMD. Isn't it possible that our good friends the Syrians might have helped him?

The 25% that believe September 11th was a gov't conspiracy - none can answer this: If the US gov't could not keep the atomic bomb secret from our mortal enemies, the Soviets, how in the heck could the gov't have kept a conspiratorial 9/11 secret from the press that hates the gov't?

I personally believe Democrats eat babies and Republicans barbecue them!

Answer 8

who's gonna say yes to that? or are you guessing you'll probably be able to tell based on their answer, regardless if they're honest with themselves or not? fair assumption. but i don't really know how to answer this question. except that i agree that it is difficult to have faith in people and in democratic systems when you meet so many people who could do everyone a favor by not voting or voicing their opinion at all. but how do you stop people from being stupid? that's how all good dictatorships begin.

Answer 9

My current political views are motivated
by the price of milk, which is now $4 a
gallon.
I think last year's Big Oil windfall needs to
be returned to the tax payers' pocket.
Then, maybe we wouldn't be in such a
credit crunch.

Answer 10

Yes. The superstition and ignorance of the general populace motivates me to oppose much of what they support.