Do Democrats believe Republicans are stupid?
This isn't really a fair question. Do Republicans think Democrats are stupid? Do (members of group X) really think (members of opposing group y) are stupid?As a Democrat, I have a hard time understanding why people vote Republican, when Democratic values appeal to me so much more. As such, voting Republican doesn't seem sensible to me. A Republican would say the exact same in reverse.I have the great privilege of having been a minority opinion for some time (five years in Texas) so I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that there are smart, thoughtful, moral people who are strongly Republican. This shouldn't be news, but I think the problem arises when people live in an area where almost everyone votes and believes roughly the same. When the other party is faraway people you read about and hear about in the news (which also largely agrees with you) it can be difficult to remember that the other side are people too. They go to work, hang out, and love their families the same as you.At the same time, you are allowed to be critical of the political vision they support. People can be very smart and still make decisions you disagree with, and generalising all opponents as stupid is not just infantile, it degrades the intellect of the one who does it. To put it simply, I believe that voting for Donald Trump is a stupid thing to do, but I don't believe that everyone who does it is stupid. Hope that makes sense...
Why are Texas Republicans against Critical Thinking?
The 2012 Texas Republican Party Platform, adopted June 9 at the state convention in Forth Worth, seems to take a stand against, well, the teaching of critical thinking skills. Read it for yourself: We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student's fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority. This is right on the Texas GOP website. I wish this was a joke but it isn't. Texas scores 49th in the US on the SATs for reading and writing.
If the USA gets a Republican president, will gay marriage be banned?
I know Obama's here till 2017 but I'm just wondering. Seeing as they are against gay marriage, if a republican becomes president will they have the authority to ban gay marriage where it is currently allowed and would they actually do that?