Can We Please Stop Labeling Liberals “Elite?” (Republicans outscore Democrats)

Center for Individual Freedome ^ | 1/17/2010 | Timothy H. Lee

[GVnana]

In a survey released October 14, 2009 – just three months ago – the liberal-leaning Pew Research Center ran a “News IQ Quiz.”

It probably didn’t surprise the Pew staff to learn that a “partisan knowledge gap” existed between Democrats and Republicans.

But it surely horrified them to realize that the gap favored… Republicans.

On fully ten of twelve “News IQ Quiz” questions asked, Republicans demonstrated deeper basic knowledge than Democrats, with respondents tied on one question and Democrats leading on only one of the twelve.

In other words, the hard survey data confirms what anyone familiar with socio-economic issues already suspected: if anyone earns the label “elite,” it is actually more conservative Americans.

[McGruff]

On fully ten of twelve “News IQ Quiz” questions asked, Republicans demonstrated deeper basic knowledge than Democrats...

So to call them DUmmies is an accurate depiction.

[The_Reader_David]

Well, except for the proof-reading. Thanks for the high praise.

[Ge0ffrey]

How about “liberal effete” instead?

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I have no doubt that the average conservative is more intelligent and better informed than the average democrat. The democrats have a layer of marxist intellectuals at the top but there isn’t much rational thinking below that.

[Cannoneer]

Wondering what the opposite of elite might be I looked up the definition of Pica. You know the other type used in old typewriters.

"Pica: A craving for something not normally regarded as nutritive.",

My theory, with no particular attempt to hold water, is that Liberalism (Pica) is a craving for something not normally nutritive to the our democracy.

[grey_whiskers]

Yeah, pica is often manifested as an appetite for eating dirt.

Sounds like typical liberals to me...

Cheers!

[outhousepatrol]

“On fully ten of twelve “News IQ Quiz” questions asked, Republicans demonstrated deeper basic knowledge than Democrats”...

The two questions that Republicans had trouble answering:

1. Where is the Food Stamp Office?
2. Where is the Welfare Office?

[freekitty]

We call them elites because they think they are better than us not because they are and they aren’t.

[Earthdweller]

"Thus academicians tend to foolishly assume that having some fiduciary look after ones material needs on one’s behalf would be a good thing for everyone and end up being socialists and looking down on people who pursue commerce."

This description fits what I refer to as university inhabitants. I find a strong sense among them that they are not of this planet and humans with "normal" neurological makeup are merely a bother. Aspergers running wild.

[chris_bdba]

Yes but they aren’t called “elite” for their supeior knowledge(or lack thereof) they are called “elite” because that is the way they view themselves. You know better than the great unwashed masses. LOL too funny that they aren’t nearly as smart as they think they are!

[Dewey Revoltnow]

duh! of COURSE republicans are smarter, the rich are ALWAYS smarter, that's why they are RICH!

So, Michael Moore is an anomoly?

[dsc]

“latte-sipping, Mini-driving, Queer Eye-watching, sushi-eating, wine-drinking”

That’s how he describes himself? That can go directly into my glossary of flames.

[Jabba the Nutt]

Only the successfully ‘dumbed-down’ and con men, become Democrats.

[The_Reader_David]

Actually, my wife sometimes accuses me of having Aspergers. I do not, however, suffer from the delusion that just because it is beneficial to my mathematical research to not need to worry about material needs, and similarly for my fellow academicians’ pursuit of their chosen disciplines, that such a state of affairs is either possible or desirable for humanity at large.

[Earthdweller]

Agreed. I come from a long line of “university inhabitants”. It's likely that I have a strong touch of the “boogers” as well. Even so, I find no need or desire to follow along with the mindset that requires “normal” humans to be placed on a leash. The female boogers tend to be a little more forgiving.

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

Liberals aren’t elite, they’re elitist.

Big difference.

[NTHockey]

I am part of those statistics and I cannot believe how dumb some of the respndants are (I missed two).

I guess H.L. Mencken was right: “No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.”

[RoadTest]

Well, yeah! The big difference here is between ELITE and ELITIST!

Demonrats are Elitist and Conservatives are ELITE.

Not really. Knowing more abput he issues doesn’t make them elite - just more articulalte. They won’t begin their sentence with “I feel - - - “.

[dforest]

I got all 12 questions right. I am certainly not elite. I just pay attention to what is going on.

Being informed is a choice. Lefties watch and listen to MSM who chooses to keep them uninformed on the truth. They believe what they want to believe and they come to their faulty conclusions without fact or knowledge.

Actually it is this that make the dem sheeple so dangerous to liberty.

[Nickname]

In the context of politics, “elite” is a derogatory term describing those who think that they know better than me what’s best for me.

And if I disagree, I’m just a bitter red-neck hillbilly racist homophobic sexist astro-turfing terrorist xenophobe (and other stuff I’ve forgotten).