I agree with the reasons you see for people voting for Bush, I just disagree that those are representative of ideology, or that ideology is opposed to reason. I follow an ideology (a liberal one), but not because I don't think. In fact, the ideology is the *product* of my thinking.
I'd say the answers that you suggest are true, but that they are based on ignorance or laziness ont he part of those who porpose them. Thing is, there *are* also people who propose the same answers out of a genuine ideology, and they're a different sort of fowl altogether.
There *are* people who seriously believe that massive tax cuts will prompt economic recovery and thus increase GDP and thus the tax base. Admittedly, most of them are also for big budget cuts as well, which Bush seems lukewarm about (but I gather big cuts are planned for a wide range of domestic program in thye next budget...)
There *are* people who really think that by overthrowing the Iraqi government and setting up a new one we create a democratic state that would start a trend toward democracy throughout the region. Of course, I'd've been more in favour of putting pressure on our allies (like Egypt and Saudi Arabia) over whom we have some influence to move faster toward democracy, instead of spending lives and moeny on an experiment in Iraq.
So, yeah, there are ignorant reasons to vote for Bush and ideological ones, but I'd maintain they're not entirely the same thing.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2004-09-08 02:24 pm (UTC)I'd say the answers that you suggest are true, but that they are based on ignorance or laziness ont he part of those who porpose them. Thing is, there *are* also people who propose the same answers out of a genuine ideology, and they're a different sort of fowl altogether.
There *are* people who seriously believe that massive tax cuts will prompt economic recovery and thus increase GDP and thus the tax base. Admittedly, most of them are also for big budget cuts as well, which Bush seems lukewarm about (but I gather big cuts are planned for a wide range of domestic program in thye next budget...)
There *are* people who really think that by overthrowing the Iraqi government and setting up a new one we create a democratic state that would start a trend toward democracy throughout the region. Of course, I'd've been more in favour of putting pressure on our allies (like Egypt and Saudi Arabia) over whom we have some influence to move faster toward democracy, instead of spending lives and moeny on an experiment in Iraq.
So, yeah, there are ignorant reasons to vote for Bush and ideological ones, but I'd maintain they're not entirely the same thing.