David Brooks: Public disgust powers up the tea party movement

The Oregonian / The New York Times ^ | January 9, 2010 | David Brooks

[2ndDivisionVet]

The United States opens this decade in a sour mood. First, Americans are anxious about the future. Sixty-one percent of Americans believe their country is in decline, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey. Only 27 percent feel confident that their children's generation will be better off than they are.

Second, Americans have lost faith in their institutions. During the great moments of social reform, at least 60 percent of Americans trusted government to do the right thing most of the time. Now, only a quarter have that kind of trust.

The country is evenly divided about President Barack Obama, but state governments are in disrepute and confidence in Congress is at withering lows. As Frank Newport of the Gallup organization noted in his year-end wrap-up, "Americans have less faith in their elected representatives than ever before."

Third, the new administration has not galvanized a popular majority. In almost every sphere of public opinion, Americans are moving away from the administration, not toward it. The Ipsos/McClatchy organizations have been asking voters which party can do the best job of handling a range of 13 different issues. During the first year of the Obama administration, the Republicans gained ground on all 13.

The public is not only shifting from left to right. Every single idea associated with the educated class has grown more unpopular over the past year.

The educated class believes in global warming, so public skepticism about global warming is on the rise. The educated class supports abortion rights, so public opinion is shifting against them. The educated class supports gun control, so opposition to gun control is mounting.(continued)

[2ndDivisionVet]

Some really good comments after the column.

[Stayfree]

I am sick and tired of the B.S., we need to send a directive to Congress...either vote as we dictate or get out of the way when we the American people storm the government and fire every one of you bastards.

[VRWC For Truth]

Fire them all at the voting booth.

[screaminsunshine]

What kind of a Demento is this guy. Educated??? What a Kook! This guy has Bats in his Belfrey.

[SumProVita]

“Every single idea associated with the educated class has grown more unpopular over the past year. “

Is this an attempt to say that, basically, those who are having problems with this administration’s policies are not educated ?

[Cicero]

"Personally, I'm not a fan of this movement. But I can certainly see its potential to shape the coming decade."

--David Brooks, Educated Class

[Lysandru]

I would not say "educated," I would say "over-educated."

Let's face it-- people with advanced degrees are more likely to be in favor of gay marriage and other foolishness.

[aquila48]

David Brooks, Educated Class, Moron

[pepperdog]

If you replace educated with indoctrinated I’d agree.

[hope]

I’m telling you, if the American people took away from their time to set out to correct the wrong that they allowed, these podunks would be totally screwed.

Question is...when are they gonna say enough is enough?

[jonathonandjennifer]

Is this an attempt to say that, basically, those who are having problems with this administration’s policies are not educated ?

Bingo

or maybe just those who diaagree with David Brook's ideas.

[SumProVita]

“Let’s face it— people with advanced degrees are more likely to be in favor of gay marriage and other foolishness.”

I very much disagree. I believe this is a manufactured stereotype perpetuated by the media.

[poodle]

Vote them out. When did people get so soft on crime?

[Trust but Verify]

Personally, I’m not a big fan of David Brooks and his implication that anyone who is against big government is not educated.

[Lysandru]

“Let’s face it— people with advanced degrees are more likely to be in favor of gay marriage and other foolishness.”

I very much disagree. I believe this is a manufactured stereotype perpetuated by the media.

Really? Let me posit this to you. Compare the percentage of sitting judges who are in favor of gay marriage with the percentage of actual registered voters who believe this sort of nonsense.

Extend my thesis-- what percentage of college faculty members believe in gay marriage as opposed to the percentage amongst regisgtered voters?

[God luvs America]

nah- I would use terms such as Arrogant, Belligerent, Condescending, Entitled to best describe the “educated class” brooks is talking about- which he is in fact part of...

[Irenic]

Harvard brought us the very educated Theodore Kaczynski...

I also wonder why this very educated class does such a rotten job on education. Our public schools are the pits. Perhaps the educated class deserve scorn. They’re too busy looking down their nose to see what’s in front of them. I prefer good old common sense.

[NTHockey]

Going to school and eating your lunch is NOT an education. Too many snake oil charlatans parade their degrees and appelations as proof of their superiority; yet they can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.

Show me a person who can assemble an M-1 Garand and a M1911 pistol - blindfolded - and make a meal out of wild berries and beef jerky; that’s an educated person.

[hellbender]

You nailed it. And I'm disgusted by his indication that ordinary non-indoctrinated Americans are against the elite's positions simply because they feel negative and therefore pick positions opposite to their rulers.

Who is educated and intelligent--People who believe in global warming while the climate gets colder? People who ignore all the science about solar cycles? People who ignore the amazing ultrasound depictions of the humanity of fetuses? People who ignore the evidence that we are at war with Islam? People who ignore the crime and financial burden from illegal aliens?

G.K. Chesterton pointed out that "common people have common sense."

[hinckley buzzard]

Every single idea associated with the educated class has grown more unpopular over the past year.

Thank God. The people that Brooks considers "the educated class" are the very jerkoffs who have gotten us into this multifaceted quagmire. Remember "The Best and the Brightest?" You bet, Brooks, you a-hole.