Monday, September 15, 2008

Sam Harris on Palin: average isn't good enough

Sam Harris sums up pretty well my thoughts and opinions about this election and how the American people have come to settle for so little. The dumbing-down of America seems unstoppable. I may not be here to witness it, but "Rome" will fall once again.

"As many people have noted, placing Palin on the ticket has made these final months of the already overlong 2008 campaign much more interesting. Is Palin remotely qualified to be president of the United States? No. But that's precisely what is so interesting. McCain not only has thrown all sensible concerns about good governance aside merely to pander to a sliver of female and masses of conservative Christian voters, he has turned this period of American history into an episode of high-stakes reality television: Don't look now, but our cousin Sarah just became leader of the free world! Tune in next week and watch her get sassy with Pakistan!

Americans have an unhealthy desire to see average people promoted to positions of great authority. No one wants an average neurosurgeon or even an average carpenter, but when it comes time to vest a man or woman with more power and responsibility than any person has held in human history, Americans say they want a regular guy, someone just like themselves. President Bush kept his edge on the "Who would you like to have a beer with?" poll question in 2004, and won reelection.

This is one of the many points at which narcissism becomes indistinguishable from masochism. Let me put it plainly: If you want someone just like you to be president of the United States, or even vice president, you deserve whatever dysfunctional society you get. You deserve to be poor, to see the environment despoiled, to watch your children receive a fourth-rate education and to suffer as this country wages -- and loses -- both necessary and unnecessary wars.

McCain has so little respect for the presidency of the United States that he is willing to put the girl next door (soon, too, to be a grandma) into office beside him. He has so little respect for the average American voter that he thinks this reckless and cynical ploy will work.

And it might. Palin's nomination has clearly excited Christian conservatives, and it may entice a few million gender-obsessed fans of Hillary Clinton to vote entirely on the basis of chromosomes. Throw in a few million more average Americans who will just love how the nice lady smiles, and 2009 could be a very interesting year.

Tune in next week and watch cousin Sarah fuss with our nuclear arsenal ... ."
~ Sam Harris

Read Sam's article here at Atheist Nation via this link:

Sam Harris on Palin: average isn't good enough

11 comments:

Tommykey said...

What this country really needs is a John McCain/Jason Bowden ticket!

"Drill here! Drill now! Bomb there! Mushroom cloud!"

CyberKitten said...

Personally I want our leaders to be exceptional people - certainly not Jo Average!

I'm sorry but running a country is not something everyone can do - and not everyone should have a 'try' at!

I wonder if average people are running our financial institutions though? [laughs]

Stardust said...

Tommy, along with killing the wolves, letting the polar bear die, and while all that is going on make lots and lots of babies to send off to all those wars.

Stardust said...

I wonder if average people are running our financial institutions though?

Idiots are apparently in charge of everything. And some republicans are blind to it like "what problem? We are all living in the lap of luxury...don't you know?"

jhbowden said...

Liberals have one standard for Sarah Palin, and another for Barack Hussein Obama.

If Sarah Palin is not qualified, Obama is less qualified. If experience really matters to critics of Sarah Palin, then it follows that they should vote for McCain-Palin.

Drill baby, drill!

Stardust said...

I think you missed the point, Harris is referring to all the choices Americans are making. They are settling with less experience all the way around.

None are qualified, and it should concern you. Just because you "believe" doesn't mean everything is going to be okay.

McCain chose Palin because he knew she would take the attention off of him. And how can we be certain if he just doesn't take a back seat in the White House like he has been doing in the campaign? Gramps can rest and relax now that his star messiah has arrived. And many people are falling for it.

Tommykey said...

Jason would cut off his own penis if he thought it would upset liberals.

Well, just so you know Jason, it would upset me, so head on down to your local hardware store and look for a good clean sharp blade!

Tommykey said...

Pharyngula has a new post about Sarah Palin here.

Stardust said...

tommy...this is disturbing...

"Munger also asked Palin if she truly believed in the End of Days, the doomsday scenario when the Messiah will return. "She looked in my eyes and said, 'Yes, I think I will see Jesus come back to earth in my lifetime.'"

So, her wanting to go after Iran or any other "evil" country does not scare her at all because she and her fellow believers think that it will bring on the return of their imaginary friend.

Stardust said...

Drill baby, drill!

And how will this help America as a country and American consumers? I would like to know what positive effects it will have, not just what you *think* it will have.

Anonymous said...

Jason is incredible.
Comparing Biden to Palin's experience is like comparing an elephant to an ant. And for cripes sake! I sure as hell don't want no xtian nutcase like Palin a step away from becoming the president!

Ya know, if McSame had taken Hillary for vice-president (lol - don't even know if thats possible), I'd feel a hell of a lot better about this country's future.