The Left-wingers are the fearful ones. That is why they advocate more federal government and SOCIALISM. Socialism brings the false promise that everyone will be taken care of - Get sick? Free healthcare. Out of a job? Government will create one for you. Didn't provide for your old age? The welfare state will house you. Didn't save for your kids education? Hey, in Liberal-Land, college is FREE. Became a junkie or a drunk? The Left-winger social programs will give you counseling and free drugs to help you feel better.

Left-wingers are afraid of reality, they are afraid of the real world. They live in fear; they policies reek of fear.

Aw man ... i wish you had commented first . I wondered what could be up . I just thought he wanted to feel smug , but i did not guess how .

"I discuss politics with people who are fishing "

I'm sure they look forward to YOUR coming.....

Why not? Is that how, as a Left-winger, you are SUPPOSED to react?

I have not attacked anyone based on their score and will not, either. I may respond to Left-winger comments and personal attacks, but as you see - I have not made any unfavorable comment about anyone's score.

Of course I won't. This place is infested with Left-wingers, so no matter what my score is, the Liberals will contrive ways to attack, revile, distort, and turn it into something ugly as they always do.

Revealing so very revealing

" attack, revile, distort, and turn it into something ugly". That defines the rightest's agenda.

Thats what I'm thinking. He ranked so low because of the thick walled bubble he lives in is so far from the truth

Yeah, but you see -- living in a basement on Fantasy Island qualifies as the ULTIMATE bubble :-)!

True I guess he is dug in for the long haul to no where land.

I smell bullshit.

I know, you're talking so I'm stating the obvious... but still, it's fun to point it out.

Yes he lives in a cocoon of his own making.

AHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

" I do not watch the tv shows listed because we do not have cable"

That indicates, in part, the kind of person you are, what you value, and what is important to you. Good to hear you do not have cable. Speaks well of your values.

And , once you learn to read , there is nothing you cannot learn !

"I couldn't wait to finish school so I could start my education."
-Mark Twain (paraphrased, but close)

Looks like you came from a good background but have not insulated yourself from others of differing educational and economic levels. In other words, a person who comes from a well-educated, well-off family who mixes with all types of people. Does it fit?

yep

Insulated , is that like censoring ? Limiting other opinions ?

He's a kid -- still in high school if I'm not mistaken -- he hasn't had the opportunity to do all the things the questions asked.

Yep . This is fun ! I am voting everyone up !

It did not ask anything about internet , so , i think the test needs an update , no videogames ( i don't play , but i understand many do ) and differing vehicles and food choices may figure prominently on the updated test ....

"Liberals like pictures and TV". What kind of asinine statement is that? The rightist reading list is certainly no badge of honor. It keeps you in ignorance.

We probably know about America than the Americans know.

Very true. The question about restaurants only applies if you live where they have these restaurants. I also don't drink or smoke, does that isolate me? I may live in a small town in the Northwest Territories, but that doesn't mean that I can't see what is happening in the rest of the world. I've traveled extensively in both the US and Canada, and I've been to Mexico. I haven't had the privilege to travel aboard, but I still pay attention to what is happening over there. I'm an avid reader and a news junky. Paying attention to what is going on the world seems more important then what restaurant or TV show you watch. To me it was a stupid quiz.

I can definitely attest to that. I couldn't believe how ignorant I was about Canada when I moved up here after marrying a Canadian and I grew up in New York. So it's not like I grew up in an area that didn't border Canada. I just feel that there are too many Americans that think they are so superior to others that they can't be bothered to learn about the rest of the world.

I like that you constantly talk about how divisive and closed-minded (or stupid) left wingers are... but almost every sentence you type is an attack on them... You catch more flies with honey, you know? ... But from what I've seen... you're not out to "convince" people... just carpet bomb conversations with your malformed opinions...

I've seen you formulate intelligent and reasoned responses... so I KNOW you're capable of NOT sounding like a jackass... but you tend to bury your credibility under a mound of self-righteous bullshit.

Just out of curiosity, what was your score Mishie-poo?

{"Liberals like pictures and TV". What kind of asinine statement is that? The rightist reading list is certainly no badge of honor.}

Thank you for validating what I have been asserting. Not a single Left-winger has been able to write a cogent comment about a single book, even though many have condemned the books - just as you have.

Revealing....

"I also don't drink or smoke, does that isolate me?"

Read the explanation in the article. It is clear. That question is clearly answered.

"there are too many Americans that think they are so superior to others that they can't be bothered to learn about the rest of the world."

In that respect, Americans are no different than people in any other country. I am open to discuss and explain this.

I will ask you a question for purposes of beginning a discussion, but you will probably read into it beyond what is there. But I will try.

Suppose someone were a member of the Klan and was convinced that his racist views were correct, and that people who did not go along with them were traitors, immoral and cowards? I mean he is really convinced.

How would you respond to his dogmatic assertions of the inferiority of certain groups?

Like pictures on TV ?! I am sure you abhor it . What an attitude !

Agreed .

Quite right . i think the "snob" in the title of this post is a projection of the tremendously insecure nature of the designer of said test . So really , it's a head game . Nothing more .

Like pictures AND television. Not "on." I never see Left-wingers on these threads discuss books or ideas. All of what they say comes from the media and they put up cartoons to express themselves very often, so I assumed.....

I personally have discussed many books here with others .. it is a great place in part BECAUSE they recommend a good read . You have not been here as long as i , no doubt .

Glad you have discussed books. I have never seen any real discussions of ideas, concepts or books. For example, I have asked Left-wingers many times to discuss their Socialism, and they always refuse. Or, they start the nonsensical attacks, like "Don't you care about the poor?" or some other such crap.

Well going into this situation I would already feel that logic would be lost on someone like that. I couldn't explain my point from a scientific or logical perspective like: "the success of greater lifeforms is essentially based on a pattern of symbiosis. Hatred and division are logically inappropriate in dealing with others. It essentially represents a movement against the system that allowed for life and civilization to function and flourish"...

Something like that would be lost on him... So how do you relate to someone who's views on morality are clearly destructive? (It's also important to note that there is some degree of ethics (morality) that is logically "right" or "wrong". Morality has some aspect of subjectivity to it, but cannot be considered entirely subjective.)

If he were able to follow my logical assertion that our connections (not divisions) drive history in a positive direction, I could simply explain that his views will eventually become extinct because they shut him into a corner... but that won't work. I would try, and probably fail... because someone with views that deeply disconnected would most likely come from a splintered and troubled mind... but I would still try.

How corrupted must you become to prefer death and division over symbiosis and cooperation? The former group is self-defeating. It leads only to extinction.

Please continue with your point if that was satisfactory enough.

"Well going into this situation I would already feel that logic would be lost on someone like that. I couldn't explain my point from a scientific or logical perspective"

Exactly. I concur.

"Something like that would be lost on him... So how do you relate to someone who's views on morality are clearly destructive?"

Virtually impossible, as you seem to also conclude.

"I would try, and probably fail... because someone with views that deeply disconnected would most likely come from a splintered and troubled mind"

I do not necessarily agree with that kind of "psychological" diagnosis. Often, those sorts of viewpoints and ideas can be from the culture, wanting to fit in (then it becomes part of the psyche), hearing this from people the person respects, and so on. But sometimes it is a result of emotional/personal problems, failures, etc.

"The former group is self-defeating. It leads only to extinction."

You and other rational people can see that, but that person probably cannot. But pointing it out to him, as you wrote, will probably not change anything, even if you use logic, appeals to history, and so on.

"Please continue with your point if that was satisfactory enough."

Yes, very satisfactory. Thanks for your candidness, thoughtfulness and completeness.

It is exactly what it is like dealing with today’s more strident LIBERALS.

Is it humorous or not that Mishie put up a quiz to determine how in touch people are with America, I scored what appears to be pretty decently despite having very different political opinions than our esteemed Mishie-poo, and for some reason I'm being voted down for posting my score...?

I myself think that it is humorous, in a kind of pathetic and sad way, but anyone else's opinion on this matter would be appreciated.

I got a 65. Is that good?

I think the higher your score the thinner the "bubble" that isolates you from being in touch with America is.

The big long list of restaurants? We don't even have any of those in my town.

I got a 67, is that good?

Oh, I got 150, which means I'm more in touch than the dumb fuck who put together the test.

About the restaurants, I agree. The chain restaurants that I sometimes go to aren't on the list. Screw Denny's, why isn't Sherri's on that list?

You're guess is as good as mine... I think that higher is better, at least that is what I get from reading the end summary after the quiz is done.

As the end summary says alongside the scores,
"The higher your score, the thinner your bubble. The lower, the more insulated you might be from mainstream American culture."

Oh, I take that back. There is a Denny's. Yeah, we're gonna drive all the way out to the freeway truck stop and eat at Denny's because it's just so scrumptious.

No Denny's here either ... Does the Starbucks in the grocery store count , i wonder ... One would think starbucks to be quite mainstream .

yep , i go to the libary , and do not watch TV , i am real insulated .

I wait to get my movies from the library ... , so i think this quiz may be a bit dated .... since i had seen a fair few .

It is delightful ! I voted everyone up ( you too ) , because they had been voted down for reasons i do not agree with , nor could honestly justify .

Excellent score! Now I understand why you are such a joy to 'converse' with :-)!!!!!!!!!!!

My score was 68.

Yeah, I went to a Denny's once .... says volumes, don't ya think :-)?????

Why, thank you wolfess. That means a lot coming from you :)