[extropy-chat] No Joy in Mudville

[Samantha Atkins]

Inline comments.  Sorry they are late.


On Thu, 4 Nov 2004 08:14:24 +0100, Giu1i0 Pri5c0 <pgptag at gmail.com> wrote:
> Olga, I couldn't agree more on what you say here, but the fact is, he has won.

He squeaked by.  Unfortunately in this country it is winner (no matter
by how slim a margin) take all.

> Perhaps we will just have to acknowledge that for the time being his
> message of fundamentalist jihad just resonates more than ours with the
> average American (yes, American: a politician like Bush would never
> get elected in Europe where the average citizen is a bit less
> vulnerable to advertising and listens a bit more to what is actually
> said). It is up to us to change that.

I am very strongly anti-Bush but it is simply wrong to suppose that
the average American voted for him due to fundamentalism.   The
average American imho is more likely to be totally brainwashed by the
long harping on terror.   They are voting from fear.   Fear truly is
"the mind killer".


> I think our friend Mike has a very valid point when he calls for a
> fact check: most people just disagree with us. Again, it is up to us
> to change that. A way is not to limit ourselves to preaching to the
> converted, but also engage in debate with those who disagree.
>

Debate?  I am not sure that is an adequate antidote to fear. 

- samantha