Most of us are relatively naïve, ready to believe what our news outlets put forth.Adam Smith suggests that shes right. Us? What an insult. Does the author of this include herself?
The natural disposition is always to believe. It is acquired wisdom and experience only that teach incredulity, and they very seldom teach it enough. The wisest and most cautious of us all frequently gives credit to stories which he himself is afterwards both ashamed and astonished that he could possibly think of believing. - Adam Smith, Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759)Its not prudent to risk being overconfident. We come to FR to pool our (individually inadequate) incredulity.Socialists are different: they are cynical about society and naive about government. It is natural that cynicism about A would correspond to naiveté about not A, and - as Thomas Paine noted - society is a blessing, and government is (at best a necessary) evil. So it is reasonable to suggest that the two are, in a very real sense, opposites.
Btw, you're free to agree and include yourself in her assessment.☺
“The natural disposition is always to believe. It is acquired wisdom and experience only that teach incredulity, and they very seldom teach it enough. The wisest and most cautious of us all frequently gives credit to stories which he himself is afterwards both ashamed and astonished that he could possibly think of believing. - Adam Smith, Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759)”
We should adopt that as the national motto, to be read aloud whenever the National Anthem is played.