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The Closing of the Progressive Mind
American Thinker.com ^ | August 27, 2021 | Steve Feinstein

Posted on 08/27/2021 4:04:48 AM PDT by Kaslin

Most people stick with their initial position regardless of any new information or evidence that subsequently comes to light, evidence that factually undermines their first publicly stated opinion. This is a pretty reliable constant in human emotional behavior. Rare is the individual who is so secure and confident of their own self-image that they can freely and easily say, “Thanks, that’s great information! I guess my initial impressions were wrong. I appreciate you setting me straight with these new facts.”

Most people are loath to admit that they are wrong about anything. It could be about the record of a sports team or athlete. It could be about when a specific incident took place (“No, I distinctly remember we were in Mr. Kelleher’s 6th-grade classroom and Scott was there!”), or it might be the timing or significance of an historical event.

However, no error is more difficult for people to admit than an error about a politically related matter. Whether it’s questions that come to light concerning the governing effectiveness or personal character of a particular politician that someone has supported, a decision that a politician made, a highly-charged episode that has far-reaching political ramifications, there is no question that an individual’s personal ego and self-esteem are wrapped up with their avowed political positions and party/positional loyalties like virtually nothing else in life.

There are two situations when people are totally alone with their thoughts and they truly level with themselves, dropping all pretense: When driving alone in the car in light traffic and when showering. In these instances, the truth comes out, and they think to themselves in explicit language what they would never say out loud to anyone else.

Let’s look at the big issue where this really comes into play:

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 08/27/2021 4:04:48 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

First off the term progressive is so misused. Nothing involving progress here. It’s a buzzword meaning Marxist or useful idiot socialist. Even the English language fails us these days.


2 posted on 08/27/2021 4:13:54 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. )
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To: Vaquero

To a large extent, I think the political world can be divided between Patriots and Communists. The whole Marxist thing is, technically, a struggle against class. But I think it’s more accurate to say it is a struggle against God and the concept of the Nation State. If you love your country and love God, the Communists want you dead.


3 posted on 08/27/2021 4:19:06 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (We have two Democrat parties. 50% of the US population is taxed w/o representation.)
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To: Kaslin

Communists hate our “open-market, merit based society”. It is hard to control such an independent robust mobile community of individuals.


4 posted on 08/27/2021 4:29:40 AM PDT by griswold3 (When chaos serves the State, the State will encourage chaos.)
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To: Kaslin

A topic kind of down my alley. Not just the left is lacking in objectivity and self accountability when wrong.


5 posted on 08/27/2021 4:33:15 AM PDT by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: Kaslin

Yet another example of how clueless our side is. Or is the writer actually not clueless, but something else? The utter stupidity makes you wonder, because it does not seem possible that anyone on OUR side could be so stupid, even now.

If the writer thinks that “progressives” are making mistakes, or unaware of their mistaken view of things, then the writer is living in another dimension where cluelessness is a mandatory physical requirement.

It is truly astonishing how our side continues to play the witless dolt, day after day.


6 posted on 08/27/2021 4:43:22 AM PDT by Gratia
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To: Kaslin

I know several leftist’s who no matter what you show them they ignore it and change the subject or just repeat over and over again leftists talking points.


7 posted on 08/27/2021 5:17:11 AM PDT by stockpirate (Rebellion to tyranny is obedience to God., Where Justice Ends Tyranny Begins)
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To: stockpirate

“ or just repeat over and over again leftists talking points.”

See my tag line.

L


8 posted on 08/27/2021 5:18:58 AM PDT by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: Gratia

I get what you are saying, and agree that lots of Squish Pube-ies give a pass to The Left as just “mistaken”. In this case I think you judge too harshly

“If the writer thinks that “progressives” are making mistake”

The Writer gets it- this is the money quote:

“But maybe there are no good progressives. Maybe their governing philosophy is, by its very objective and definition, illegitimate, intentionally ill-suited to achieving the goals of an open-market, merit-based society like the America our Founders envisioned.”

Phrasing criticism as a soft definition often allows for some flexibility. If one were to express Xio Bei Din acts like a China Plant, would one face the same criticism as declaring it?


9 posted on 08/27/2021 5:28:54 AM PDT by Macoozie (Handcuffs and Orange Jumpsuitss)
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To: Vaquero

They need to get to the use of the word “regressive” instead of “progressive”, because the so-called progressives are the exact opposite of that word.


10 posted on 08/27/2021 5:43:22 AM PDT by oldtech
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To: Kaslin
The Closing of the Progressive Mind = bigotry.

“Progressives”/liberals are bigots.

11 posted on 08/27/2021 5:45:48 AM PDT by Vision (Elections are one day. Reject "Chicago" vote harvesting. Election Reform Now. Obama is an evildoer.)
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To: Kaslin

I was wrong about President Retard - he’s even worse than I thought he would be.


12 posted on 08/27/2021 5:54:19 AM PDT by NWFree (Somebody has to say )
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To: Openurmind
Not just the left is lacking in objectivity and self accountability when wrong.

Yes it hurts to find out you were wrong about a political issue or a politician. Bush, it took me years to finally admit that he was wrong in nation building and going into Afghanistan, defended it for years.

When Bush went against Trump, it was sealed for me, he was like all the others a self serving, lying politician. It is why I voted for Ross Perot and for the first time in my life enthusiastically voted FOR someone, Trump!

13 posted on 08/27/2021 5:59:45 AM PDT by thirst4truth (America, What difference does it make?)
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To: oldtech
In but one sense (the only one I can come up with), "progressive" is a proper description of what the Democrat/Communist/Left Party has devolved into. Leftism is, in fact, "progressive". Just as cancer is a "progressive" disease, the Left invades then destroys a healthy society, then metasticizes and spreads to other healthy areas until either the cancer of the Left is stopped -- that is, killed off -- or the society dies.

America is sick with this "progressive" cancer and it's long-past time to destroy this "progressive" disease and begin to reverse the severe damage ... before it's too late ... before America's condition as a constitutional republic is terminal.

14 posted on 08/27/2021 6:02:36 AM PDT by glennaro (Dennis Prager: "Until it's safe" means "Never")
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To: Vaquero

I have to disagree on a point. It is not the failure of the English language.

Like with the word “gay” its use was perverted to serve the interests of the ones pushing its new definition. This new definition was then fed to MSM, who collectively wouldn’t know how to find out if it was dawn or not.

Because we, conservatives (or, just not commies) are inherently polite we go along with this. We should not. Question all words being used in an unfamiliar manner — that is how the lie is hidden.

Progressive = Communist = DemocraticSocialist = Socialist = parasite soon to be feeding on your children.


15 posted on 08/27/2021 6:09:15 AM PDT by bobbo666 (Baizuo)
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To: thirst4truth

Thank you for sharing that. Similar has happened to myself also. Makes you start to step back and look at the bigger picture objectively after you are stabbed in the back a few times.


16 posted on 08/27/2021 6:09:32 AM PDT by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: Macoozie

And I get what you are saying, it is reasonable.

Here is the problem as I see it. Our side has been brainwashed into believing that our very thoughts are forbidden. For instance, people know that someone is an agent for a foreign power, but we are “forbidden” (psychologically intimidated) from saying so.

The “soft” and “flexible” criticism such as you cite, IOW defining things in a way which implicitly tells the truth, but does not tell the truth, augments and reinforces the brainwashing. And BTW, when I say brainwashing, I mean our side has been very effectively brainwashed.

And a perfect example is the sort of “flexible” definition which warily tip-toes around the truth, in fear of seeming like a crazy taboo breaker, heaven forbid! (Or, Cabal forbid).

I realize that the methods of the Cabal are designed specifically to make truth telling look crazy and unhinged. I realize that their methods are brilliant and psychologically very sophisticated in that respect. Most normal people do not think that way and cannot even conceive of the evil necessary to do that. And that is a (lovable, justifiable, understandable) weakness on our side they exploit.

But the tip-toeing is at best ineffective, and at worst (the more likely case) playing into the hands of our enemies.

Our side needs to see the abyss. It cannot be crossed. That is what the evil people have done, all the while luring us to jump in.

Our side needs heightened consciousness, and we need it immediately.

One final point. Telling the “forbidden” truth is not easy. It requires skill not everybody has. The writers on our side have that skill. They are simply too brainwashed and scared to use it. So they substitute what they think are clever ways of saying the forbidden truth, foolishly misunderstanding how they are perpetrating the evil.


17 posted on 08/27/2021 6:10:10 AM PDT by Gratia
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To: oldtech

As with everything the left names, the actual intended result is exactly the opposite. Liberal = totalitarian, antifacist - fascists, HR1 For the People Act = For the politicians act, HR5 Equality Act = preferential treatment for some at the expense of others, and the list goes on for infinity.


18 posted on 08/27/2021 6:13:38 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (When elections fail, we will either live under tyranny or rebel and throw it off.)
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To: bobbo666

If your children are in public school the commies are already feeding on them.


19 posted on 08/27/2021 6:18:44 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. )
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To: Kaslin

Do liberals EVER look at a poorly run liberal city or state with high crime, high unemployment, homelessness, drug abuse, and high inflation and examine the policies and then say, “Man that didn’t work. I’ll try something different?

The answer is of course, no. It’s as if they are trying to fail at the jobs they ran for as the same failed liberal policies are enacted over and over and over in city after city and state after state.


20 posted on 08/27/2021 6:18:55 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (When elections fail, we will either live under tyranny or rebel and throw it off.)
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