Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: America's Dangerous Turn to Anti-Intellectualism [View all]paleotn
(17,912 posts)11. They don't need intellectuals.....
....they've got propaganda and ideology...the roots of right wing, American deceptionalism. Since they've got everything already worked out, who needs thinking people, particularly among the plebs? Thinking people are inherently dangerous to blind ideology, so teachers are one of the first classes suppressed in most totalitarian regimes. Oh, and books...don't need any of the minions reading anything that might disparage of conflict with the ideological status quo. The ruling class doesn't need informed, thinking people among the plebs, thus the melt down in our public education systems....slashed funding, charter schools, no child left untested and the like.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
64 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
If the idiots are willing to do anything it is better than talking the situation to death
Sweeney
Dec 2014
#7
I think book and music bannings and burnings are a phenomenon that breaks out in different places
Dustlawyer
Dec 2014
#18
"Reality has a known left wing bias", and facts clash with the repuke world view. Simple.
on point
Dec 2014
#12
*repeatedly* (OTOH they had Antikythera-level machines in Byzantium around 500)
MisterP
Dec 2014
#33
So "A People's History Of The United States by Howard Zinn" wouldn't be allowed either.
L0oniX
Dec 2014
#26
Yep. His book "Anti-Intellectualism in American Life" was required reading
The Velveteen Ocelot
Dec 2014
#44
Scientism? Like what? As a computer engineering major I wonder what you're talking about.
alp227
Dec 2014
#54
TPTB desire a new generation of automatons, pliable cows easily herded against their own self
blkmusclmachine
Dec 2014
#47