Not all Texans are dumb and gullible and driving pick-up trucks. There is another diary up about Texans giving in large amounts to Democrats outside of the state, it touched a spot with me.
I'm glad to know there are others like me who are paying attention to what goes on outside of Texas as well.
I am blue, I am liberal, I am very, very open-minded, I am at minimum agnostic, probably more atheist than anything else and yet...
I was told all of my life that I was smarter than most people. Put a lot of pressure on someone who also is ADD. I'm sure there are many on this site who have been told the same. My mind goes 200/mph non-stop. My fingers cannot type my thoughts fast enough so most of the time they get lost in fingered translation. Please note that these days, I'm on a few medications due to my health.
However, CNN's webpage had this article and it caught my attention...
It is worth a quick read. Apparently, the higher your IQ the more you may be Liberal, Athiest and if a man, devoted to one woman.
http://edition.cnn.com/...
The IQ differences, while statistically significant, are not stunning -- on the order of 6 to 11 points -- and the data should not be used to stereotype or make assumptions about people, experts say. But they show how certain patterns of identifying with particular ideologies develop, and how some people's behaviors come to be.
The reasoning is that sexual exclusivity in men, liberalism and atheism all go against what would be expected given humans' evolutionary past. In other words, none of these traits would have benefited our early human ancestors, but higher intelligence may be associated with them.
Bailey also said that these preferences may stem from a desire to show superiority or elitism, which also has to do with IQ. In fact, aligning oneself with "unconventional" philosophies such as liberalism or atheism may be "ways to communicate to everyone that you're pretty smart," he said.
The article goes on to explain the possible reasons why a higher IQ correlates with the difference in thinking. One important nugget is about being able to see beyond one's self or family and react and care for strangers. I think that might explain why the current Republican Party really cannot see the masses of people in America who are currently suffering, why they cannot accept that our healthcare is not the best in the world and the list goes on of what I consider "blind" beliefs.
I have seen on this site and I have wondered where do these voting blocs of people come from (both Liberal and Conservative). Where do tea-baggers come from? Rednecks? You name it, the people who are afraid of change, who do not see beyond themselves, and I guess my list could go on (again, brainwaves firing faster than the fingers).
I have been told a few times in my life that I must be one of those "Liberal Elites." Well, apparently there is a connection to these accusations I receive.
I know first hand the different conversations I have with one side of my family versus the other side (one is not quite as smart and very, very, very, religious.... my Uncle used to be on the Board of the Southern Baptist Convention... Nuff' said).
Human behavior is one of my fascinations. I was told a long time ago I should go into Sociology. Yeah, should of, could of, would of....
And... one last thing.... am I being "Elitist" by publishing this diary?