Hello (hello, hello) is there anybody in there

I have often questioned the seemingly short-sighted, altruistic, and naive attitude of my liberal tree-hugging friends; often strict Democrats or even all out socialists. They sometimes have simplistic conclusions, and an inability to identify the manipulative demagogues who swindle their votes with ruthless deception. Yes Shawn (other Shawn), they do ask you to help save the puppies, slaughter them, and secretly feed them to you. And yes, you think the puppies are tasty. And yes, you continue to vote for more slaughtered puppies. I know you're not a willing participant in the carnage...you just overestimate the candidates and elected officials. But you are open minded in values and spirit, even if the real meat isn't getting through.

I have seen there is something much worse than the above. Ever walk back into your elementary school in amazement..like everything is a miniature model of what you remember? That is how I felt tonight - like looking at the giant bubble in which I have always lived. I had always assumed the bubble was much larger than it is. I maybe never realized the degree someone can depend on tradition, consistency, and public opinion rather than thought. As if the word "conservative" or "Republican" is the constant, its ideas are permanently sound, and one can bury his head in the sand and permanently trust those words and all that is associated with them with little subsequent concern for thought or reason. As if the Democrats are evil and must be beaten no matter what, regardless of the candidate, the method. That all they need to do is find the one most "popular" and promote him regardless of record, ideas, or mental stability. And that it is appropriate to apply means contrary to your principles in order to perpetuate them. As a newly discovered independent I had the opportunity to observe something once familiar from the outside and now realize with greater precision the difficulty of the true battle that must be fought.

Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative. -John Stuart Mill

I think John may be right, but I think his particular environment shielded him from many ugly realities of life. He was home schooled and had hardly any experience with the exclusive and brutal nature of the popularity contest. Being correct is very often a disadvantage to free thought, especially in an environment of insecurity, fear, and unfamiliarity (elementary school). In many of these these cases, being nonthreatening and blindly cooperative is advantageous. And then when a group develops you have the choice to join them or be mocked by them. This persists pretty much throughout life. It is a strong incentive to keep your mouth shut - behavior practiced by plenty of individuals who are far from stupid.

I guess that is why I decided to ditch the Republican Party and the Libertarian Party and become an Independent. If I believe such organizations are perpetuating the type of behavior that violates the thought incentive, I am part of the problem by identifying with them. Should such superficial tags continue to be depended upon after their core principles have changed or become a retrograde of their origins? Is it possible that when this happens people don't notice because they have come to trust and become very attached to their particular group? Is it possible some didn't really understand the principles in the first place...benefited from the party's platform regardless of the principles? Had to choose between supporting a self-benefiting part of the platform while violating one of its principles?