The Baloney Detection Kit

K, nice anecdote, but LBJ is in most respects a better example of down-and-dirty political mud wrestling (at which he was a supreme master) than of rational, idealistic discourse.

Hey! Being a proudly bleeding-heart, empathetic, heal the sick, feed the hungry, educate the unlearned, save the planet "librul," I love Johnson's having pushed through both voting rights and "new society" legislation.

In addition, though people now laugh with scorn, I love Lady Bird's having championed protecting interstate highways from billboard ugly obnoxiousness, and simple stuff like turning off lights when one leaves a room.

When you get down to it, though, I think Charles Pierce is right in _Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free_:

"The gut [common sense] inevitably tells so many different people so many different things at so many different times that it causes them to choose up sides. Good ol' common sense is almost never common and it often fails to make sense. Because of this, [James] Madison was wary of the Gut from the start, and he tried to devise a system by which the Gut could be controlled…."

Me? I hope for restraint, research, fact, mutual respect, mutual consultation, and calmly reasoned reflection. Does my personal common sense, gut reaction tell me that particular courses of action are right? Of course! Would I want our nation to follow the guidance of my common sense, gut reactions? Obviously not!!

Research, reason, courage, determination, compassion, mutual respect, and honest negotiation. That's what we need.

Republican Teddy Roosevelt said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." I think that's good policy. Republican, Democrat, or Tralfamidorian? Doesn't matter.

I respond to a woman or man on the basis of character, knowledgeability, rationality, empathy, compassion, and civility. Republican? Piffle! Democrat? Piffle! What matters to me is humanity.

Why is the obvious so enthralling to human beings- Lyndon Johnson summed this up as the Texas long horn steer argument. A point here - a point there - and a lot of bullshit in between. We don't need this guy or anyone else to tell us how to use our minds.

Thanks, PJ! Shermer is always great.

He is, of course, talking about what's usually known as a "bullshit" detector. Or, more politely, "crap" detector. Calling it "baloney" hints too much at coprophagia!

I'm gonna link to and comment on this on my own blog. One can only hope some of the journalists and/or talking heads in the media will watch the video.

Fantastic Video that should be seen by everyone.

Personal opinion but I doubt anyone will not love this thing :).

Great post! Thanks for sharing this video! I think everyone, including myself, should try to strive to heed these rules.