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Newest Reality

(12,712 posts)
42. Thanks for your view on that.
Thu Aug 22, 2019, 01:11 AM
Aug 2019

I wonder what that says about the individual psyche and collective consciousness of this species?

Is this an inherit, wired trait or an aspect of cultural conditioning, or both? I consider the nature/nurture debate to be about two sides of the same coin, so, even with the many variables involved, I imagine the same is true for traits/culture. Certain kinds of conditioning in a culture begin very early in the developmental process, and there are obvious flaws in that in respects to authority and the deprecation of critical thinking. Western religious dogmas often allow for and encourage authoritarians and subservience to them, whereas the teaching and promotion of higher order, rational ethics might actually negate that, so the nature of the education system is implicated as well.

As far as the masses go, ignore-ance seems to factor in as a vulnerability, yet, historically, many intellectuals, academics, philosophers, scientists and clergy have been lured into the miasma of tyranny for various reasons like power, self-preservation and other perks, once it gets going full swing as populism. Perhaps a herd mentality holds sway, as well?

Yet, in light of the above, we could say that a society/culture, collectively has to take responsibility, to the proper degree, for how resilient a population will be to that kind of phenomena, that is, if it does respect its population and does not consider such resilience to be a threat and it does not require its citizens to be pliable and easily manipulated for ulterior motives. And yes, I am being sarcastic and know full well that is the case. The American education system, overall, has not been utilized, in my opinion, to accomplish the task of inculcating skills and values that a true democracy and freedom demand. In fact, it has been increasingly doing the opposite since, at least, the 50s-60s as far as quality goes. The dumbing down began around that time, though the authoritarian essence has prevailed much longer and, other than in higher education, since the inception of compulsory education.

"War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength;"

meth DBoon Aug 2019 #1
Don't stop him, he's on a roll... Scurrilous Aug 2019 #2
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Bob Loblaw Aug 2019 #25
Good gawd MontanaMama Aug 2019 #3
Hot Messiah Blue Owl Aug 2019 #4
Congress keep investigating, SDNY keep investigating, New York AG keep investigating, Democratic NoMoreRepugs Aug 2019 #5
OMG! Impeachment sounds really good right now. djacq Aug 2019 #6
He must have snorted an extra rail this morning htuttle Aug 2019 #7
He IS The Chosen One -- Chosen By PUTIN nt smb Aug 2019 #8
Trump thinks the trade deficit is because China is ripping us off William Seger Aug 2019 #9
China holds all the cards - how right you are! rurallib Aug 2019 #12
Trump is taking Nixon's Madman Strategy a bit literally... RockRaven Aug 2019 #10
This IS YOUR trade war ol self-chosen one. Deal with it. You can not disown it. You own it! riversedge Aug 2019 #11
And I thought xxqqqzme Aug 2019 #46
He is demented. MBS Aug 2019 #13
Yep, heading into full-blown dementia now. PandoraAwakened Aug 2019 #14
Deuteronomy 4:16 Historic NY Aug 2019 #15
25th Amendment now Mz Pip Aug 2019 #16
I don't like this episode. Ramsey Barner Aug 2019 #17
I am sorry, but... Newest Reality Aug 2019 #27
Victory Announcement: Employment has increased by 501,000 fewer jobs! crazytown Aug 2019 #35
++ Newest Reality Aug 2019 #36
4, 3, 2, 1 crazytown Aug 2019 #37
Vaporized Unpersons Newest Reality Aug 2019 #38
doublethink - in practice crazytown Aug 2019 #39
How amazingly Newest Reality Aug 2019 #40
I think it is a recurring and inevitable pattern crazytown Aug 2019 #41
Thanks for your view on that. Newest Reality Aug 2019 #42
Addendum: 'Ignorance is Strength' crazytown Aug 2019 #43
Pretty bold statement coming from a universally known lier Wash. state Desk Jet Aug 2019 #18
Eh, Sam Neill did it better. Grokenstein Aug 2019 #19
The man (child) is mentally ill. Firestorm49 Aug 2019 #20
Cult45's Beatles moment. ffr Aug 2019 #21
The Beatles actually had talent and a message. n/t gldstwmn Aug 2019 #30
Queue Obi-Wan line here...... FreeLookMode Aug 2019 #22
25th amendment time Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Aug 2019 #23
Isn't he the cutest thing? Sugar Smack Aug 2019 #24
You spelled beat wrong Bob Loblaw Aug 2019 #26
Chosen by Putin. Kid Berwyn Aug 2019 #28
If anyone has watched Netflix's The Family gldstwmn Aug 2019 #29
Putie's choice. BHDem53 Aug 2019 #31
I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for this. yardwork Aug 2019 #32
Yes MustLoveBeagles Aug 2019 #34
Didn't we used to make fun of N. Korea for this shit? MustLoveBeagles Aug 2019 #33
The Nazi republican is trying to cause more mass murders. All in the name of him rockfordfile Aug 2019 #44
Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Nitram Aug 2019 #45
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