Stupidity is not an asset

Contrary to what certain Republicans would have you believe, stupidity is not an asset. For some excellent points every American (and Brit) should ponder, read Bob Herbert's spot-on piece in The New York Times.

As my friend Lee commented this week, we have become a nation concerned primarily with what material things we have, rather than who we are and what we believe. Change is long overdue!

Scroll down the page for two additional posts today.

Comments

[Vicki in Michigan]

Amen.

[tangobaby]

I can't wait to read this... I've been staying away from the news lately, but it's time to get back reading (and thinking) again.

[rochambeau]

Bob Herbert speaks the truth in concise manner. Anyone who disagrees with him has their head in the sand. I hope the "stupid", horrific damaged that has been done to our country the past eight years is reversible, that we're not too far gone!! Our country effects the whole world!!
Must think good thought for our country,
For our new President Obama!
For we the individual!
Thank you for sharing Bob's thoughts and his article Tara!
xox
Constane

[Christina]

I am headed over to read this.

xxoo

[Chris]

Wow. This is absolutely cool. Of course, no one wants to be stupid, but arrogant stupidity doesn't know it's stupid. Sometimes when I'm stupid I have to really swallow hard and apologize, or change, but at least I'm not arrogantly stupid. Why are people invested with power so arrogantly stupid?

I think a lot of us are complacent or lazy, and it takes years and months of repeated arrogant stupidity for us to stand up and say okay, that's it. get out. I wish we'd act sooner. Now, in terms of bad information, I think starving info services out may be the only way it ends. But that's harder to do, because people won't think for themselves very easily.

Thanks for this link. You encourage thinking independently. It's a valuable service.

[Helen]

Excellent article but the dumbing down of America began many years ago and seems to have been a success. I would like to think the anti-intellectualism theme will be going away but with Faux News and reality TV still going strong, one has to wonder. Hoping for the best....but there isn't day I do not hear something jaw-dropping stupid or completely inaccurate.

On a different note, your latest photos are fab!

[Rosa]

I missed this one, but did catch Time to Reboot by Friedman (http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/24/opinion/24friedman.html&OQ=_rQ3D1Q26emcQ3Deta1&OP=6391ab70Q2Fes8Ee203ox00d@e@llZe1@e@Le06.z.0ze@L-x.82qVzXQ7Bdqg). How true how true.

[suzanne]

I feel optimistic that with all the bad news we may finally be willing to turn a page and do things differently, if only because things are so bad, we have no choice.

[judith]

Tara -
Excellent commentary on a sadly prevalent aspect of America today ( and for far too long!). The dumbed down, numbed out population who believes "It can't happen to us --- We're Americans!" are in for quite a stunning wake up call. Greed and corruption run far deeper than has, so far, been revealed. I know it's not a very kind thought ... . but, I want to take the pic of a line of Madoffs in a bread line.
[thanks for the note about my blog being down -- I had no idea.]
Hope YOUR New Year is most happy ... Judith

[Robin Laws]

we just can't hear this enough!!! great article that ought to be passed around like a good e-mail chain letter to everyone we know whether they be smart or stupid.
xo
always thinking tara. that could be one of your aliases.

[pam aries]

Tara..I just went to the site and read the article..thank you! I sent it to a slew of friends! I also signed up for the New York Times updates! Cool!

[Yoli]

My dear Tara I think the nation agreed with you when they decided that the McCain/Palin ticket was too stupid to elect. Change is definitely long overdue and I am glad it is coming. Not a moment too soon my dear friend.