One of my Midwestern correspondents also sent me a rather good fisking of the Berkeley “study”. Excerpts:
“Ten meta-analytic calculations performed on the material - which included various types of literature and approaches from different countries and groups - yielded consistent, common threads, Glaser said.”
Stack the deck on what you put into a meta-analysis, and see what comes out.
“The avoidance of uncertainty, for example, as well as the striving for certainty, are particularly tied to one key dimension of conservative thought - the resistance to change or hanging onto the status quo, they said. “
Is this an example of resistance to change? … “Millions of California drivers will see their fee increase, On average, from $76 a year to $234, beginning in 90 days” (I was just griping about having to pay $47.50 for my truck. while my car is only $45.)
“Hitler, Mussolini, and former President Ronald Reagan were individuals, but all were right-wing conservatives because they preached a return to an idealized past and condoned inequality in some form.”
That’s a damnable insult to the man who ended the cold war. If you visit politopia.com, you might be surprised to find out that they rate FDR as closer to Hitler and Stalin.
“The result is an "elegant and unifying explanation" for political conservatism under the rubric of motivated social cognition, said Sulloway. “
Any time I see terms such as “elegant and unifying…” the red flags go up. And just what would be the alternative to “motivated cognition?” Unmotivated cognition = daydreaming?
“As for conservatives' penchant for accepting inequality, he said,”
As opposed to the liberals’ penchant for trying to impose a mediocracy on the US?
“being intolerant of ambiguity,”
Midwesterners would say “Call a spade a spade…”
“high on the need for closure, “
Midwesterners would say “Shit or get off the pot…”
“might be associated with such generally valued characteristics as personal commitment and unwavering loyalty,"
Midwesterners actually think these characteristics are IMPORTANT.
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