The fact that so many people believe what Glenn Beck says is what scares most of us because we like to think our fellow Americans aren't that foolish. That's why bunches of us were relieved when Obama was elected. We were shocked that other Americans were as reasonable as we were.
The problem with Beck, then, is not his narrative, which is entertainingly foolish to anyone who actually knows anything about anything. The problem is the size of the audience in the United States that actually knows nothing about nothing. This mass (my guess, about 12 percent of the electorate) is easily moved, the past summer and its continuing silly rhetoric on all kinds of issues indicate. They wear know-nothingness like a badge.
What is prompting all of this is a New York Times column from the world voice of reason, Tom Friedman, about the dangers of demonizing people. President Obama, he argues, is being demonized by those who hate him and what he represents. Friedman said he has seen this before, in Israel just before an assassination. Someone suggested on Facebook that someone might want to kill Obama, the columnist said. I hope the Secret Service finds that person.
Charles Madigan, the writer of the story, goes on to say we shouldn't try to silence Beck and other loudmouths. I agree. We shouldn't bury stupidity, we should let it flow, as painful as it is, so people get to see Beck and friends for who they are. But we should counter stupidity with facts and good information so the ugly spew doesn't just lie there and make a mess.
But it is deeply frightening to me (as a human, not a dog) that the chance exists that someone might try to silence these loud voices on the right on the grounds that what they say is untrue, unsavory, unhealthy, whatever. I think we should actually turn up the volume so everyone can hear them better. I do have faith that people can make good decisions once they have a genuine grasp of the issues. Read more at the Chicago Trib
