An anthropological dilemma repeated here at DU:

[Waiting For Everyman]

14. I see it as followers vx. independent thinkers.

Repubs are followers. They pick out someone they deem worthy of making judgements, and then swallow those opinions whole. Evaluating information, for them, isn't about the truth or validity of the information, but about the worthiness and credibility of the messenger. To me, that's the conservative mindset. They don't do their own thinking. Even progessives, who are followers, are conservatives in my book. There are some authoritarian progressives on DU.

The independent thinkers are the opposite. They don't care who the source of information is, it only matters whether it is true or false. The information stands or falls on its own, and the messenger is irrelevant. If "the devil himself" speaks the truth, then it's the truth.

I think we have our own brain because it's up to each of us to do our own thinking with it.

I think "good vs. evil" divisions about people are fallacies. We're all both. I will say that the more screwed up a person's thinking is, the more destructive things that person will do.