I typically vote Republican – and I agree with the final statement in Marty Essen’s recent opinion article “The Cult of Republicanism”. I think the statement should be expanded to say that education is our best hope for keeping everyone sane, including the GOP. That’s all I can possibly agree with in his article.
Much of what Mr. Essen uses for fact or proof is vague, subjective, out of context, or otherwise questionable. He uses issues in hot contention as though they were obvious foregone conclusions. Through invective language, he caricatures his targets and so tries to elevate himself.
Can he prove enough of these claims to back up his argument? Does it make sense to his readers, having life experience and common sense to draw from, that Republicanism can be defined as a cult? Is the Republican Party comprised of duped simpletons reeled in by evil rich villains in the shadows? Are there “men behind the curtain” manipulating millions of idiots like comic book villains?
An educated, or informed, person should actively seek out intelligent people with whom they disagree for debate and discussion. This isn’t Mr. Essen’s interest. His is a typical narrow, weak argument based on pigeonholing, belittling, and dismissing his targets. The Republican voters I’ve met, like most people, are by and large reasonable, sane people who arrived at their viewpoint due to life experience and consideration.
Education has always been necessary to maintain sanity. A sane person is of sound mind, reasonable, and sensible. Any educated person who reads Mr. Essen’s flimsy arguments and insults will reject them in favor of debate and discussion. They will reject his narrow opinion of other viewpoints in favor of respect for people, whether they agree or not.
Aaron Rhodes
Corvallis