A Whole Lotta Stupid

In a few weeks close to fifty million Americans will vote against their own interests by choosing John McCain. Why? Idealism, greed, racism, and fear for starters. I tend to believe the main reason is stupidity.

I grew up on Long Island and spent two summers as a toll keeper on the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Great job if you love the outdoors and don't mind emphysema. About a mile from the toll plaza was a sign that read: "Toll Ahead 50 Cents". A similar sign appeared about a half mile closer.

As you approached the tollbooth, a very large sign on plaza read: "Slow Down. Pay Toll. 50 cents." As you pulled into my lane there was a blinking sign that read "50 cents." When I leaned out the window of my booth, a neon sign flashed right in the driver's face "50 cents." Over the course of one eight-hour shift, at least thirty people would ask me "How much?" "One dollar" I'd reply. Nine times out of ten they'd pay it. I'd ring up the 50 cents and pocket the rest.

Now this was a suburb of New York City and the people in the cars were, for the most part, savvy Manhattanites. Can you imagine if I worked at a bridge today in oh, let's say West Virginia and the traffic was all heading to a McCain/Palin rally? I'd make a mint and retire early.

If you think Obama is a Muslim, you're stupid. If you think he's a terrorist, you're a dope. If you think Sarah Palin would make a good President, send me fifty dollars and I'll pass it on to her. Promise.

Comments

[Roopez123]

My thoughts exactly. Excellent post.

[Freesia2]

Funny article. But you have something wrong.

I come from Appalachia, and not only would they not give you $1 to the 50 cents, they likely would annoy you so badly wondering why the toll was so high -hey they didn't just fall off a turnip truck -that YOU would end up paying the 50 cents just to get them to drive on and leave you alone. :-) Now who's a whole lotta stupid and 50 cents poorer Yankee boy?

They shouldn't vote though. They keep picking people with 6 packs they'd like to drink them with.

[realtalker]

DEMOCRATS PLEASE VOTE!! THE POLLS ARE TIGHTENING UP NOW, SO EVERY DEMOCRAT IS NEEDED AT THE POLLS VOTING FOR BARACK OBAMA!!!
VOTE EARLY, IF YOU CAN DO IT IN YOUR STATE!!

DEMOCRATS WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE THIS ELECTION, WE CANNOT AFFORD 4 MORE YEARS OF DISASTER WITH JOHN McCAIN (WHO HAS BEEN WRONG OVER THE PAST 8 YEARS ON EVERY FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE WE HAVE FACED). WE CANNOT AFFORD 4 MORE YEARS WITH A VICE-PRESIDENT SARAH PALIN (WHO IS SO SCARILY UNQUALIFIED), THE IDEA OF HER, AND JOHN McCAIN THE WHITE HOUSE LITERALLY MAKES ME HAVE NIGHTMARES!!

DEMOCRATS: WE NEED LARGE NUMBERS OF DEMOCRATS OUT VOTING, SO WE CAN WIN THIS ELECTION THIS YEAR !
WE CAN SEE THAT THE REPUGNANT REPUBLICANS ARE ALREADY PLAYING THE SMEAR, AND FEAR CARD, JUST LIKE THE DID IN 2004!! WE CANNOT ALLOW THE REPUGNANT REPUBLICANS TO WIN THE ELECTION WITH THESE TACTICS AGAIN!

DEMOCRATS PLEASE VOTE!!!

[zanzig]

You've perfectly ennunciated my private belief, but proof will be forthcoming soon. If after reading, or hearing of, Rowena McCain's stated belief that Obama is bad for the country because he will "take from the rich to give to the poor", these imbeciles (obviously not the rich ones) go ahead and vote for McCain, they are proven unicell organisms.

[Mover]

I don't believe it is so much of taking from the rich as much as taking from everyone and giving it to his supporters (other rich people). It's how politicians stay in office these days.

[Hope01]

These people aren't being lead they are leading as well. They inspire the next generation hatred and racism. Example the old lady that said Obama was an Arab. She is somebody's mother, grand mother. OMG what a disservice to her descendents.

[egal]

Yes, stupidity all the way. It's like lemmings have been SHOWN that all the other idiot lemmings are running off the cliffs, and instead of turning onlt the obvious path to survival, these morons just say that they trust that the people leading them over the cliff's edge to do the best job to keep them from going over the cliff just because they say they can, in stark contrast to reality.

[ladydriver]

Finally. Someone saying what we've all known for so long. Thank you, Stu, for speaking the facts of the matter.

[Mover]

Being a petty criminal proves that McCain voters are stupid?

How does that work?

[oafishcad]

Poor people who vote Republican do so because they have been brainwashed by the drone of Right wing extremist radio into thinking that they're doing the patriotic, Christian, right thing. But the collapsing economy is forcing many of them to face the fact that the GOP is the Royalist party. The class warfare and screw you party. Maybe the USA will become as liberal and Progressive in rural and poor areas as it once was. One can hope.

[Mover]

I hate to burst your bubble, but poor people probably don't listen to "the drone of right wing extremist radio", or any talk radio. Even right wing radio.

[MsDebate]

Stu i am sure you will be getting plenty of money in the mail by morning. This guy at work today was red as a beet asking me to explain more about Ayers...WHY????? Who cares, I don't. I for one was not offended by Bill Clinton and Monica, that was between him, his wife and his God. At least I had money in my pocket and all the for sale and foreclosure signs weren't everywhere you turn.

[blaqntelligence]

MsDebate, I totally agree with you.
I have an ongoing conversation with a coworker who believes that Obama is a Muslim.
One day, out of frustration, I asked her "If Senator Obama has done everything he possibly could to prove he's not Muslim, how is he responsible for what YOU believe?"
Her response? "He's not."
She is a Hillary supporter who's decided to sit this one out.
I'm still working on her.

[oafishcad]

Poor people who vote Republican do so because the GOP propaganda for years has been that the GOP is the more manly party (we'll protect you, they'll put you in danger). The GOP is the more Patriotic party (except of course for trashing the Constitution-shhh) and they're the more Christian party (except of course for ignoring the teachings of Christ and favoring the rich over the poor and the well over the sick). Since Saint Ron the Reagan's election, the Democrats have let the Royalist party define Patriot and Christian, and allowed Theocrats to wag the nation. It's nice to have a nominee who calls them on their crap. Maybe the people who listen with half their brain-the emotional half-will someday listen with the whole thing. But I won't hold my breath. Maybe they like the warm, wet, yellow trickle down.

[Mover]

I hate to be a poop, but, what example of Republicans "trashing the Constitution" do you have. I don't recommend using the Patriot Act as nearly all Democrats voted for in the US Congress... Twice.

FYI: Neither party is more "manly" than the other. Both are patriotic, both favor rich donors, both have millions of Christians. The reason some leftists paint Republicans as some sort of mean spirited evil is because that is what their Democratic Party leaders and their willing accomplices in the legacy media have told them to believe.

The reason Democrats must market those lies about Republicans is because if they tell Americans the truth of their agenda, not near as many voters would support them.

The fact is, money is power. Which ever party is in control of congress, the Whitehouse, the county commission, the city mayor's office, ALL get more lobbyist money, more perks, more supporters with cash to treat them right. It is their way.

If this is not true, why did Mayor Bloomberg and spend millions of dollars of his own money on the campaign for an office that only pays $195,000 (reportedly, he only gets paid $1 per year). Why does he do that?

[lucylou]

and more to the point, they vote against their own interests: McCain voted against raising the minimum wage, McCain will tax your health plans, McCain thinks your soc security should be on Wall St....(well, he is a maverick gambler, after all...) Why people don't want a better America is beyond me.

[Mover]

These are all twists of the truth for marketing purposes.

What is a "better America"?

[nmjangirl]

Stupid is as stupid does

[SEQUOIABISON]

Stu, it is difficult to dispute what you say, it may be an exaggerated generalization of the citizens of the states you mentioned, but quite an accurate portrayal of the stereotypical characters living in coal mining areas like those depicted in movies like the Deer Hunter.

But this time I really think we will win despite the ignorant element of the electorate?

Obama/Biden

[ladydriver]

Excuse me. Stupid does not have a particular geographical location, income level, employment status, career path, etc. Stupid comes in all shapes, sizes, classes, colors, zip codes and so on. Please watch your "stereotypical character generalizations." Thanks. Stereotyping is one of the things we're trying to overcome in this country and in this election.

[Mover]

"Stereotyping is one of the things we're trying to overcome in this country and in this election."

Hey, me too.

The stereotype is that Obama is "transitional figure" because he's black. When Gen. Powell endorsed Barack, he became a "transitional" figure.

The truth is Barack is a product of the Chicago political machine that has been propping up politicians who otherwise could get elected if left to their own talents and character.

Barack Obama: Admitted and unrepentant socialist.

Joe Biden: long on foreign policy experience, but cannot remember any of it.

[MSB]

I'm right there with you.

I love the right and their insistence that low/no taxes are a good thing for working Americans. Even a cursory exploration of recent American history will dispel this myth. Reaganomics are/were a DISMAL failure. Low taxes led to increasing deficits and growing debt - debt funded by foreign governments who now buy ownership in American infrastructure as our dollar becomes increasingly worthless and who are also used as scapegoats to feed the fear which leads to more destructive policy. The middle class is a CREATION of partially socialized capitalism. The middle class was a creation after the depression because it lent stability to our capitalist system.

A real easy primer for the ignorant: Where is American industry? Where are American jobs? How big is the deficit? How big is the debt? WHO has been overwhelmingly in power during this decline?

How do you spin reality??? The answer: ignorance. Willful ignorance = stupidity.

[zest]

The stupid will always be with us.