Fox News Is A “Cult,” Plain And Simple and a rant on ignorance

[ashling]

Last edited Wed Dec 2, 2015, 06:33 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.occupydemocrats.com/actor-sean-penn-fox-news-is-a-cult-plain-and-simple/

As the right-wing echo chamber prepares its latest round of climate change denial in response to the climate talks currently underway in Paris, France, actor Sean Penn had some harsh words for the propagandists at FOX News:

Well, I don’t believe there are climate skeptics. I think there are people who indulge in a culture of what can be reduced to Fox network thinking. That has nothing to do with the politics that apply to the protection of quality of life in any sense. It’s like talking to a member of a cult

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The world-famous actor and director hit the nail right on the head. It’s obvious to see that the uniformity of talking points among members of the right-wing is being set by the network, whose opinions are then reiterated at all levels of engagement – from internet comment sections to the stump speeches of presidential candidates. What’s even more bizarre and alarming is the utter rejection of scientific fact and empirically proven knowledge in favor of less tangible “evidence”, like the “feelings” of presidential candidate and New Jersey governor Chris Christie. There’s even statistical evidence to back it up – a “March poll of 1,016 Americans found that 17 percent trust Fox News on climate change, while only 11 percent trust the president. Twenty-two percent of respondents said they trust print, online and broadcast media outlets. Forty-five percent of those polled in the recent St. Leo survey said they trust nongovernmental scientists and educators for climate change information, and only 13 percent trust the federal government.” A 2013 study also found that “consumption of conservative media decreases both trust in scientists and belief that global warming is occurring.”

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Bush used to get accused of not being intellectually curious. I think that was a fair assessment. However, the problem with most of the Republiklan candidates and many of the voters is what I call pro-active ignorance.

It is not just that they are not curious or interested enough to find out, they are actively invested in remaining not only ignorant, but unaware and thoughtless.
Not just about politics, but about history, and all manner of things affecting the greater world.

We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.
~ Ben Franklin

In fact, it takes so much energy to remain ignorant that it is amazing that many of these are even self aware at all. But, as someone else whose name escapes me, once said, there is no extreme to which man will not go in order to avoid the true labor of thinking. I have frequently encountered this perplexity in my classes.

I have been an adjunct college government and history instructor. I try to keep in mind that other advice from Ben Franklin, Tell me and I forget, Teach me and I remember, Involve me and I learn. All too often I have those in my class that refuse to be involved, to be taught, or even to listen.

They are too busy being pro-actively ignorant.

[randys1]

1. 5 minutes ago I was assured that Obama is bringing in ISIS terrorists to USA to kill us

And this is a mainstream GOP poster on the site.

[olddots]

2. I disagree

Cult members aren't aren't high paid ,hair sprayed turd maggots .Fox is more an army of glamorous ogres .