• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Are Conservatives Uneducated?

Are Conservatives Uneducated?

  • Total voters
    80
Conservatism Linked to Lack of Education | Psychology Today
Conservatism Linked to Lack of Education
I send you to college and now you support queers!
Published on February 17, 2010

Oh right wing media, how I love thee for amusement. So it is a bad thing that liberals are more educated?

A recently released study showed that people at the end of college are more liberal than people starting college. And it also showed that students at the end were not necessarily more knowledgable about government and civics issues.

According to a wide range of right wing media, this is a sign that college makes people liberal. This is a bad thing because, according to them, liberal professors are pushing their beliefs onto students, but, get this, they aren't necessarily learning more.

(Sigh before I go on). First, it is outlandish to suggest that, overall, students aren't learning more in college because they don't know more about government and history. What about all the other subjects? And clearly, from your perspective, they are learning liberal views right? Isn't that of some civic value?

Secondly, since when was education a bad thing? I am so tired of people telling me that I "think too much" and am just some brainwashed left winger in academics. I am sorry I know a lot about something and this shapes my views on life, including social issues. It is sad that people have to apologize for knowing stuff, as if this is some horrible thing. But for conservatives, it is often it viewed this way.

(No wonder Fox News reporters play down their credentials. For instance, one reporter was Valedvictorian and graduated from Stanford, but asks on air what words like "czar" mean, as if she doesn't know).

Why isn't this study being viewed by people as a negative thing for conservativism? Why are the headlines "liberals brainwash your kids at college" instead of "If you are conservative, you are probably less educated?"

Sadly, it seems I do not have much media company in my interpretation of the results.
 
Howard the Duck said:
All Bell curves have exactly the same shape. That's what makes them Bell curves.

Some curves are bell-shaped but only normal distributions are Bell curves.

IQ likely falls on a Bell curve. Education doesn't. It's more of a function of economic opportunity.

I submit that a study of grammar usage on ths site would tell you all you need to know about the premise of this thread.
Click to expand...

IQ follows a normal distribution (μ=100, σ=15), at least until you get out to the tails. An IQ of 203 is possible, -3 isn't. Of course, IQ tests aren't all that accurate out that far so it really doesn't matter.

It's worth keeping in mind that IQ is a measurement defined to follow a normal distribution. It's defined as the ratio of one's mental age ascertained by a standardized test to one's chronological age. Education isn't as easy to boil down to a single number. What does it mean to be educated? Are we measuring breadth of knowledge? Depth? Accuracy? Some combination? How does a mechanic with encyclopedic knowledge of every system in every major brand of car rate? How does that compare to a surgical specialist that only performs a single procedure? How can we compare them on only one axis?
 
MrWonka said:
Why won't you answer the question? Tell me which Democrats are equally to blame for the fact that there is so much money in politics? As I recall President Obama(a Democrat) scolded the Supreme Court for the decisions in the following State of the Union address. Obama, who by the way graduated from Harvard Law, and for a time actually was a professor of Constitutional Law recognized the damage it would cause, and why it was a terrible ruling that was not based on anything in the constitution.

So please, do tell us. If the biggest problems in our country are money in politics, and Democrats are exclusively against Citizen's United while is is exclusively Republicans who are to blame for it how exactly can that be a problem that is caused equally by both parties?

Just because you're having a hard time understanding who is right and who is wrong doesn't mean we're all equally right and wrong.
Click to expand...

The Citizens United case followed centuries of precedent, and is indeed Constitutional. Under the law, corporations have always been viewed as individuals, with all the rights and responsibilities of an individual. To rule otherwise, unfortunately, would have overturned all precedents. And Citizens United would not have prevented big money from switching their "donations" to PAC's. So we're stuck with it.

Both sides take big money where ever they can get it. It isn't unique to one side of or the other. Obama and the Democratic party have their share of big money donors; George Soros ring a bell? Hollywood has been especially fruitful when it comes to big contributions. They also accept big money from corporations and the special interest groups that support them.

My contention that big government, now involved in every aspect of existence in this country, drives big money in politics is well documented. When regulation is a certainty the smart money says be sure you can influence those regulations in your favor. That means lobbyists and big money. Under our Constitution there is no way to stop that. Limiting contributions beyond a certain point will be seen by any high court as an infringement on the First Amendment. Shortening the campaign season will similarly be seen by any high court as an infringement of the First Amendment. So there is no "solution" on the horizon. Big government means big money; no two ways about it. And BOTH sides take the money and run....... for office.
 
Mithros said:
IQ follows a normal distribution (μ=100, σ=15), at least until you get out to the tails. An IQ of 203 is possible, -3 isn't. Of course, IQ tests aren't all that accurate out that far so it really doesn't matter.

It's worth keeping in mind that IQ is a measurement defined to follow a normal distribution. It's defined as the ratio of one's mental age ascertained by a standardized test to one's chronological age. Education isn't as easy to boil down to a single number. What does it mean to be educated? Are we measuring breadth of knowledge? Depth? Accuracy? Some combination? How does a mechanic with encyclopedic knowledge of every system in every major brand of car rate? How does that compare to a surgical specialist that only performs a single procedure? How can we compare them on only one axis?
Click to expand...

Join the Mighty Duck three standard deviations above the mean.
 
Middleground; It's a known fact that conservatives are very stooped.
Click to expand...

Howard the Duck said:
There brains are smaller then you'res.
Click to expand...

You two made me spit coffee out of my nose. You are hilarious !!!!! This is why I visit this forum !!!! Hillbilly grammar; keep the hits coming!!!
 
concernedpuma said:
DD I am a President Trump supporter, conservative, and educated. What is the Education to which this thread is referring?
Regards,
CP
Click to expand...

Calling yourself a conservative doesn't make you one, regardless of your education level. No Trump supporter is a conservative, period.
 
Taxman said:
Conservatism Linked to Lack of Education | Psychology Today
Conservatism Linked to Lack of Education
I send you to college and now you support queers!
Published on February 17, 2010

Oh right wing media, how I love thee for amusement. So it is a bad thing that liberals are more educated?

A recently released study showed that people at the end of college are more liberal than people starting college. And it also showed that students at the end were not necessarily more knowledgable about government and civics issues.

According to a wide range of right wing media, this is a sign that college makes people liberal. This is a bad thing because, according to them, liberal professors are pushing their beliefs onto students, but, get this, they aren't necessarily learning more.

(Sigh before I go on). First, it is outlandish to suggest that, overall, students aren't learning more in college because they don't know more about government and history. What about all the other subjects? And clearly, from your perspective, they are learning liberal views right? Isn't that of some civic value?

Secondly, since when was education a bad thing? I am so tired of people telling me that I "think too much" and am just some brainwashed left winger in academics. I am sorry I know a lot about something and this shapes my views on life, including social issues. It is sad that people have to apologize for knowing stuff, as if this is some horrible thing. But for conservatives, it is often it viewed this way.

(No wonder Fox News reporters play down their credentials. For instance, one reporter was Valedvictorian and graduated from Stanford, but asks on air what words like "czar" mean, as if she doesn't know).

Why isn't this study being viewed by people as a negative thing for conservativism? Why are the headlines "liberals brainwash your kids at college" instead of "If you are conservative, you are probably less educated?"

Sadly, it seems I do not have much media company in my interpretation of the results.
Click to expand...

It most certainly is viewed with disdain by Conservatives. Have you ever received a one-down grade for taking a conservative view, and seen others with ridiculous thesis grader higher because the Prof was a Pinko(or Red)? I have and it stinks!!! Enjoy the elevated status while it last. It won't much longer. Liberals are too often on the wrong side of common sense. Very dreamy, but impractical as two left shoes.
Regards,
CP
 
DifferentDrummr said:
Calling yourself a conservative doesn't make you one, regardless of your education level. No Trump supporter is a conservative, period.
Click to expand...

Doesn't make not we one either.

*holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion.
\
I sense a Libertarian in the midst. I am a conservative, but recognize some ground has to be given to make a full recovery from deficit spending. Watch the GDP and resultant tax collection to see the bigger picture.
Respectfully,
CP
 
Casca XV said:
Why would anyone assume Obama is/was a Muslim? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP_2YfZmTXc

If Conservatives are so uneducated than why has their Ideology created the America: although not perfect the greatest most prosperous nation in all human history, while your Leftist Ideology killed 150 million people and caused nothing but misery and destruction.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, 150M and counting...Pity Venezuela.
Regards,
CP
 
Casca XV said:
Why would anyone assume Obama is/was a Muslim? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP_2YfZmTXc

If Conservatives are so uneducated than why has their Ideology created the America: although not perfect the greatest most prosperous nation in all human history, while your Leftist Ideology killed 150 million people and caused nothing but misery and destruction.
Click to expand...
Hmmmm.... in this case I’d have to say that it was a bad case of confirmation bias that’s causing you to accredit your current ideology with successes that occurred long before it even existed. The political divides of other eras tend to be vastly different than today, even if they use similar terminology.
 
Mithros said:
Hmmmm.... in this case I’d have to say that it was a bad case of confirmation bias that’s causing you to accredit your current ideology with successes that occurred long before it even existed. The political divides of other eras tend to be vastly different than today, even if they use similar terminology.
Click to expand...

What is confirmation bias? I would agree that the differences of the past are different than today, for what it is worth,
Regards,
CP
 
DifferentDrummr said:
Calling yourself a conservative doesn't make you one, regardless of your education level. No Trump supporter is a conservative, period.
Click to expand...

I’d argue the opposite. Conservative is a lable of a political movement like the Yankees are the name of a baseball team. What it means to be a conservative changes like the players on the Yankees. Give it enough time and every viewpoint can change.
 
concernedpuma said:
What is confirmation bias? I would agree that the differences of the past are different than today, for what it is worth,
Regards,
CP
Click to expand...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

Its essentially unconsciously focusing on the data points that support what you believe and ignoring the ones that don’t. We all have a tendency to do it.

In that case the notion that conservatives were responsible for creating the US was a pretty incredible feat of selective reasoning.
 
Mithros said:
I’d argue the opposite. Conservative is a lable of a political movement like the Yankees are the name of a baseball team. What it means to be a conservative changes like the players on the Yankees. Give it enough time and every viewpoint can change.
Click to expand...
Yes, viewpoints can and do evolve, but the ability of the government to fulfill every dream is limited to what the people demand and can afford, right?
Regards.
CP
 
calamity said:
He's correct.

As for the thread: Conservatives have the minds of a fifth grader who flunked third grade, twice.
Click to expand...

How many minds does this 5th grader have? How many conservatives were involved in this caper? Did the the fifth grader flunk third grade twice or did conservatives steal minds on two occasions?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom