What to do about CTists in Congress?

The Charnel Expanse · 29th July 2011, 10:35 AM

How does this country deal with, or even survive an influx of kooks into the halls of power? You know, the ones who refuse to believe the warnings from every single credible source that failing to raise the debt ceiling would be catastrophic for the U.S. and global economy.
I respect anyone willing to challenge mainstream ideas, but only so long as their challenges are based on facts and reasoned analysis. There's a fine line between courage and insanity, and these people are clearly crossing it to make some abstract point that they themselves don't even seem to understand.

But the bigger issue is not with individual congresspeople, but the fact that the country as a whole seems to have fallen into a collective derangement over the past decade-plus. It's manifested itself in a number of ways. From the Truther phenomenon [which despite the complete lack of progress made by their 'movement' does not appear to be shrinking in number] to the Birthers, Deathers and those who believe in all manner of theories regarding Muslims and illegal aliens.

Such a collective distrust of science and logic is an existential threat to a society. The question is what can be done about it? If we can't convince people entrusted with governance of the country to appeal to reason, what hope do we have?

Alareth · 29th July 2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

But the bigger issue is not with individual congresspeople, but the fact that the country as a whole seems to have fallen into a collective derangement over the past decade-plus. It's manifested itself in a number of ways. From the Truther phenomenon [which despite the complete lack of progress made by their 'movement' does not appear to be shrinking in number] to the Birthers, Deathers and those who believe in all manner of theories regarding Muslims and illegal aliens.

Such a collective distrust of science and logic is an existential threat to a society. The question is what can be done about it? If we can't convince people entrusted with governance of the country to appeal to reason, what hope do we have?

A Fox News host just asked Bill Nye if recently discovered evidence of vulcanism on the moon was cause to doubt global warming.

deep · 29th July 2011, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by The Charnel Expanse

How does this country deal with, or even survive an influx of kooks into the halls of power?

..don't vote for them next time?

dafydd · 29th July 2011, 02:49 PM

Poke them with sticks and laugh at them?

BaaBaa · 29th July 2011, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Alareth

A Fox News host just asked Bill Nye if recently discovered evidence of vulcanism on the moon was cause to doubt global warming.

I saw that this morning: the look on Mr. The Science Guy's* face at about the 30 second mark was priceless.

*I don't know his actual credentials- too lazy to investigoogle.

Horatius · 29th July 2011, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by deep

..don't vote for them next time?

Problem is, the kooks have the vote too, and they seem to outnumber us....

The Charnel Expanse · 29th July 2011, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Horatius

Problem is, the kooks have the vote too, and they seem to outnumber us....

That's kind of what I'm getting at. When kooks elect other kooks to the halls of power, that gives kooks a much larger megaphone to spread their kookiness and turn others into kooks. It's a vicious cycle.

Horatius · 29th July 2011, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by The Charnel Expanse

That's kind of what I'm getting at. When kooks elect other kooks to the halls of power, that gives kooks a much larger megaphone to spread their kookiness and turn others into kooks. It's a vicious cycle.

To quote a friend of mine: "At some point, you just decide that the only moral option is to take over the world..."

And yes, that's an actual quote. No fooolin'

29th July 2011, 10:35 AM	#1
The Charnel Expanse Muse Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The Transition Hospital Posts: 940	What to do about CTists in Congress? How does this country deal with, or even survive an influx of kooks into the halls of power? You know, the ones who refuse to believe the warnings from every single credible source that failing to raise the debt ceiling would be catastrophic for the U.S. and global economy. I respect anyone willing to challenge mainstream ideas, but only so long as their challenges are based on facts and reasoned analysis. There's a fine line between courage and insanity, and these people are clearly crossing it to make some abstract point that they themselves don't even seem to understand. But the bigger issue is not with individual congresspeople, but the fact that the country as a whole seems to have fallen into a collective derangement over the past decade-plus. It's manifested itself in a number of ways. From the Truther phenomenon [which despite the complete lack of progress made by their 'movement' does not appear to be shrinking in number] to the Birthers, Deathers and those who believe in all manner of theories regarding Muslims and illegal aliens. Such a collective distrust of science and logic is an existential threat to a society. The question is what can be done about it? If we can't convince people entrusted with governance of the country to appeal to reason, what hope do we have?
	__________________ Nature abhors a vacuum, which is why my dog barks at the roomba. "I nominate The Charnel Expanse as the greatest poster in the history of the Internet." - - johnny karate

29th July 2011, 02:20 PM	#2
Alareth Expert Expertologist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 6,682	Quote: But the bigger issue is not with individual congresspeople, but the fact that the country as a whole seems to have fallen into a collective derangement over the past decade-plus. It's manifested itself in a number of ways. From the Truther phenomenon [which despite the complete lack of progress made by their 'movement' does not appear to be shrinking in number] to the Birthers, Deathers and those who believe in all manner of theories regarding Muslims and illegal aliens. Such a collective distrust of science and logic is an existential threat to a society. The question is what can be done about it? If we can't convince people entrusted with governance of the country to appeal to reason, what hope do we have? A Fox News host just asked Bill Nye if recently discovered evidence of vulcanism on the moon was cause to doubt global warming.
	__________________ Pixelated Reality \| Alareth Does Art! Light travels faster than sound, which is why some people appear bright, until you hear them speak

29th July 2011, 02:32 PM	#3
deep Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,367	Originally Posted by The Charnel Expanse How does this country deal with, or even survive an influx of kooks into the halls of power? ..don't vote for them next time?
deep Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,367	__________________ _{beachnut: "Why did you make this failed statement? Because you lack knowledge?"}

29th July 2011, 03:31 PM	#5
BaaBaa Semi-literate hench-person Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 1,419	Originally Posted by Alareth A Fox News host just asked Bill Nye if recently discovered evidence of vulcanism on the moon was cause to doubt global warming. I saw that this morning: the look on Mr. The Science Guy's* face at about the 30 second mark was priceless. *I don't know his actual credentials- too lazy to investigoogle.
	__________________ "Damn, i think you are illeterate"

29th July 2011, 04:55 PM	#6
Horatius NWO Kitty Wrangler Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada Posts: 21,894	Originally Posted by deep ..don't vote for them next time? Problem is, the kooks have the vote too, and they seem to outnumber us....
	__________________ Obviously, that means cats are indeed evil and that ownership or display of a feline is an overt declaration of one's affiliation with dark forces. - Cl1mh4224rd

29th July 2011, 02:49 PM	#4
dafydd Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Belgium (Flatland) Posts: 31,478	Poke them with sticks and laugh at them?

29th July 2011, 05:29 PM	#7
The Charnel Expanse Muse Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The Transition Hospital Posts: 940	Originally Posted by Horatius Problem is, the kooks have the vote too, and they seem to outnumber us.... That's kind of what I'm getting at. When kooks elect other kooks to the halls of power, that gives kooks a much larger megaphone to spread their kookiness and turn others into kooks. It's a vicious cycle.
	__________________ Nature abhors a vacuum, which is why my dog barks at the roomba. "I nominate The Charnel Expanse as the greatest poster in the history of the Internet." - - johnny karate

29th July 2011, 05:38 PM	#8
Horatius NWO Kitty Wrangler Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada Posts: 21,894	Originally Posted by The Charnel Expanse That's kind of what I'm getting at. When kooks elect other kooks to the halls of power, that gives kooks a much larger megaphone to spread their kookiness and turn others into kooks. It's a vicious cycle. To quote a friend of mine: "At some point, you just decide that the only moral option is to take over the world..." And yes, that's an actual quote. No fooolin'
	__________________ Obviously, that means cats are indeed evil and that ownership or display of a feline is an overt declaration of one's affiliation with dark forces. - Cl1mh4224rd