There's an interesting article on personality tests in the
Seattle Times.
Ok, it's really about employers using these things, but hear me out. There are five main categories this particular test examines, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability and openness to new experience.
That last one measures The Wingnut Factor.
Openness to new experience: wide interests, imaginative, insightful, cultured, creative, broadminded
* High scorer: Believes in the importance of art
* Low scorer: Tends to vote for conservative political candidates
After I stopped laughing, it occurred to me this is the current crop of conservatives* entire problem. They have closed their minds to anything new.
...more after the fold...
We all know elderly people who've reached that point, parents or grandparents who will never learn to program a vcr or use a dvd player. Some folks reach their 80's or 90's and are just tired. It's understandable.
However, there's NO excuse for young or middle aged people to be that way. Religious conservatives cling to a literal interpretation of the bible and believe the earth is only 6,000 years old. Political conservatives cling to the 19th century and want to see the destruction of labor unions, worker safety and child labor laws, and the return of robber barons. "Once the public schools have been destroyed, those kids may as well work, right?" seems to be typical Wingnut thinking.
According to The Wingnut Factor, everything and everyone must have a set of strict rules to follow and there must be no deviation. They cannot accept change and grow. They're determined to make us stagnate with them.
We won't, of course. Creative, open, curious people keep societies moving. The Wingnuts want to stomp on the brakes.
*This does not apply to old fashioned, Eisenhower conservatives who are careful with money and believe in smaller government. I miss those Republicans. Please take back your party, OK? Please?