By Harvey Rifkin

Gary Neill via The Atlantic.

“Fear” and “Ignorance” are supportive bedfellows. According to researchers at “University College London found that self-described conservative students had a larger amygdala than liberals. The amygdala is an almond-shaped structure deep in the brain that is active during states of fear and anxiety. Liberals had more gray matter at least in the anterior cingulate cortex, a region of the brain that helps people cope with complexity.”

Psychology Today also supported the above theory by stating, “The results are not that surprising as they fit in with conclusions from other studies. Just a year ago, researchers from Harvard and UCLA San Diego reported finding a “liberal” gene. This gene had a tiny effect, however, and worked only for adolescents having many friends. The results also mesh with psychological studies on conflict monitoring.”

The following are ubiquitous examples of the above.

Gun Control – Gun ownership is a form of paranoia.  America is the only country that has a paralyzing Second Amendment. This controversial amendment was used in reality to accomplish two heinous outcomes; the control of slaves and the holocaust that murdered millions of native Americans whose land we stolen under the guise of Manifest Destiny. Most Americans including Liberals have no intention of eliminating and confiscating everyone’s gun. Today anti-gun control is driven by the greedy gun manufacturers and some extremely ignorant and fearful NRA members who have an unrealistic belief that all guns will be confiscated. Countries such as Australia, Switzerland, and Israel have universal gun ownership that is buffered by much strict vetting, safety, and educational requirements, with the result of a lot fewer gun deaths per capita.

Trickle Down Economics. – “Rising tides lift all ships” may be true in the ocean but not necessarily in economics. Through the manipulation of tax, inheritance, and investment policies the wealthy get wealthier and the working class wealth and income has stayed relatively stagnant, or has even declined. Getting money into the hands of working people is what really improves economic conditions, but when the wealthy can have stock buybacks, leverage the use of government deficit spending, avoid taxes by storing money offshore, it’s the real wealth never trickles down to the middle class.

Man Made Climate Change – Recent polls demonstrate that a majority of the public and vast majority of scientists recognize that there in anthropic climate change. CO2 levels are seeing major yearly increases. Coral beds in the ocean are dying due to acidification caused by CO2. There is a pattern of increasing hurricanes, rising sea levels, droughts, melting ice bodies, and general negative impacts on weather. Just as they did with toxins, cigarettes, and asbestos, Conservatives continue to sow seeds of doubt about the real phenomenon of Man Made Climate Change. Of course these same duplicitous and confusing Conservatives have ties to the Koch Bros. and fossil fuel interests in general whose only moral compass is directed by more profit.

Single Payer Healthcare – America is the only developed nation and most wealthy that does not have a thorough and efficient health care system. France where the lifespan is longer, health care costs are half, and the population is generally healthier and happier is a great model for SPH. Opposing a move to SPH is the massive Big Pharma and Insurance cabal that literally bribes our politicians to push back against any SPH reforms. Another factor that causes the tides of SPH reform to recede is the fact that 60% of Americans get their healthcare paid for by their employers, and therefore think it’s a “Free Lunch”. Wages and healthcare benefits are a major component of labor costs. If we can reduce healthcare costs, get healthier outcomes, and improve the lives of all Americans then America can become happier, healthier and more competitive in the global economy. Unfortunately, Conservatives attempt to scare the public with the demonizing label of “Socialisim” which is used to retard any movement toward SPH.

Excessive Military Spending – One of the biggest lies told beside the “Checks in the Mail” is that we fight wars for “Freedom and Democracy”.  America spends more on the military than the total of all major powers combined. Secondly, America does not care about “Freedom and Democracy”, because we have a long documented history of interfering in democratic elections in other countries, murdering their democratically elected leaders, and installing Fascist military dictators such as Pinochet, Franco, Marcos, and even indirectly financing Hitler. The military buildup is about profits for corporations and major banks that ultimately flow into the hands of the 1%. War is a rich man’s game fought by the working classes.

Pro Choice Abortion – The “ProLife” “ProChoice” argument unfortunately adversely effects the poor and women of color in our country. Denying access to safe controlled abortion procedures is akin to a prohibition on alcohol; it does not work for the general good. Women with money have always had access to abortions either by traveling to other states or countries. How can a Conservative be Anti-Abortion and also Anti-Entitlements to support poor mothers, and babies. In nature half of all pregnancies self-abort by miscarriage; are we going to arrest God because of this natural phenomenon?

I could go on and on with many more examples of how “Fear” and “Ignorance” of the public is used by Conservatives to promote their racist, power grabbing, greedy agendas.