Finally, hard evidence … but about whom?

For some reason, the birth certificate issue is even being analyzed down under in Australia. A professor at the University of Western Australia astutely picks up on the reason why seemingly intelligent people plug into ideologies that are deeply flawed:

"It has been a long-standing source of puzzlement among outside observers how the Soviet Union and its satellites could bumble along for so long without reforming their sclerotic economies. Didn’t they notice that the shelves were empty? That Western workers enjoyed a far more comfortable life-style than their Soviet brethren?

No, the Soviet ideologues didn't notice and they wouldn't have seen anything even if someone had forced them to look.

Because ideology trumps facts.

And it doesn't matter what the ideology is, whether socialism, any brand of fundamentalist religion, or free-market extremism. The psychological literature shows quite consistently that a threat to one's worldview is more than likely met by a dismissal of facts, however strong the evidence. Indeed, the stronger the evidence, the greater the threat—and hence the greater the denial."

This reminds me of a lot of the things I’ve heard from conservatives about President Obama and progressive policies, such as:

• "You may have doubts about trickle down, but we do have empirical evidence that socialism and communism do not work."
• "Obama is a socialist. Everything he does and says (when he is talking to his supporters) are excellent examples of socialism."
• "This perpetual welfare we have started with endless unemployment is just giving the incentive not to work for a much smaller pool of people than would be employed in a strong economy."
• "[W]ho passed the health care bill against the wishes of the majority? Who wants to put people in jail if they choose not to have health insurance? Which party is it that wants to regulate everything that exists in America?"

Just to be clear, I'm not implying it's conservative issue alone. There are many liberals that hold ideologically rigid views as well. It's one of the reasons I wasn't disappointed when Keith Olbermann's show went off the air.

Now someone might think that I'm glutton for punishment for debating issues with people this ideologically rigid. The reality is I don't mind because not only does it keep me honest but I agree with these kinds of people more times than they realize. Not with the statements above because although I don't mind strong opinions as long as the person knows they're opinions and not passing them off as facts, like they are here.

It never hurts to look into the opposing point of view, under the assumption that they are the ones that are right, to find something that you may agree with. One thing I've learned is my position tends to stay closer to where it originally was but becomes a bit more nuanced than before.

As far as whether or not Obama is a socialist or communist or fascist or jihadist, etc., forget what everyone else says and just go to the source. It's best way to really find out what makes a person tick, regardless of whether or not you like them.