Because they really enjoy living with an information deficit...

[Soph0571]

They revel in their ignorance. It is terribly disconcerting when you are knowledge seeker to bear witness to so many people wilfully turning their backs on fact based evidence.

[John1956PA]

1. Willful ignorance and self-deception.

From https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-we-blame/201709/willful-ignorance-and-self-deception :

. . .

The distinction between willful ignorance and self-deception has interesting implications for moral judgment. In general, we probably blame willfully ignorant people more for their actions and attitudes than those we suspect of self-delusion. Suppose that you are annoyed by a friend’s enthusiastic support of a political candidate who you believe is racist, sexist, and lacks any sense of human decency. If you believe that your friend is self-deceived—that he actually believes that the candidate is well-intentioned, has a master plan for the country, and harbors no racial or gender bias—then you may be willing to tell yourself a story such as that your friend is generally a good person who has fallen under some bad influences. But if you believe that your friend actually does know better—that he willfully ignores the candidate’s flaws because he tacitly approves of what you view as the candidate’s bigotry and unsavory character—then you are less likely to excuse your friend’s advocacy.

. . .

[Shermann]

2. "Shallow state"

That's great. I hadn't heard that before.

[Roy Rolling]

9. It's a Keeper

The shallow state. The enemy of the “deep state.”

Who the fu*k anyway came up with the brand “deep state” anyway? I bet if we trace its origins it started with the FSB.

[Voltaire2]

3. We haven't seen this level of intentional idiocy

since the 1930s.

[jimmil]

4. DEAD NUTS ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!! N/T

[SunSeeker]

5. K & R

[mdbl]

6. This is so true

and they will fight to their last breath to defend their completely self-destructive decision to allow someone like Trump take power. They still have the right-wing talking points ready to roll out of their mouths "All politicians are crooks" "They all do it" - as if both parties are completely evil and it's ok they chose theirs. It just shows their willful ignorance.

[William Seger]

7. If the difference between ignorance and stupidity is that ignorance is curable...

... then willful ignorance is indistinguishable from stupidity. When you see someone having such great success by treating people like they're stupid, it's impossible to avoid the obvious conclusion.

[FakeNoose]

10. Rec this comment

I salute you sir!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. So precisely and accurately stated! Thank you for posting it. . . . nt

[smirkymonkey]

11. +1000

[samplegirl]

12. It's depressing

I still remember a segment Bill Moyer did on the dumbing down of America. It’s gotten far far worse. This is just plain stubbornness at any cost.

[paleotn]

13. Thinking is hard....

But, ironically, they go to great lengths studying the intricacies of college football, the NFL or NASCAR. Go figure.

[2naSalit]

15. +1

[c-rational]

14. Thanks Soph0571, I thoroughly enjoy your posts.

[Soph0571]

17. Thanks and please call me Soph

[NoMoreRepugs]

16. A friend, a Trumper, who is an airline pilot often

spouts ReichWing nonsense about the economy or employment. When I provide him statistical data from Dumps own agencies he sometimes expresses what I would call mild shock that he was misinformed. Yes, a CONSTANT Faux watcher.

Does he change his mind? No. When I think this through in term of average goobers n gomers I do feel hopeless about our future if DUMP prevails in 2020.

[forgotmylogin]

18. Also, they hate being called "ignorant".

Most of them, via their ignorance, do not understand that "ignorant" does not necessarily mean "stupid". And many people mistakenly use it as a synonym or a slur. Ignorance is lack of information. I am ignorant about JavaScript coding, but that doesn't mean I couldn't learn it if I wanted to.

What I45 is normalizing is the whole "alternative facts" thing - blurring the lines between truth and misinformation and outright lies when it suits their purposes.

"Any act is legal if the President does it and is well-intentioned" is another example of this. That has never been the case, and many people nowadays shroud themselves in willful ignorance and are ignorant regarding specific intricacies of our political system such as "checks and balances" and "wall between church and state". They accept a ton of intentional disinformation about those because it serves those in power to ignore - and remain ignorant - of those facts, and keep their base ignorant as well.

It's a terrorizing combination of George Orwell and Mike Judge's Idiocracy.

[GeorgeGist]

19. Ignorance is bliss!

Liberal tears are frosting.