General Discussion

SidneyR

(143 posts)

40. I think most educated people know what oligarchy and autocracy means.

Fri Mar 21, 2025, 09:43 AM

Mar 21

But yes, a depressingly large percentage of Americans are dumb as rocks. Many average Americans can't think their way through anything. Four syllable words are too hard for them. Scientific method? Credible sources? What are those? Something to do with intellectual snobs. Idiocracy, once a comedy, has become a documentary. We are a country of idiots.

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Dumb it down, for fuck's sake. [View all] LuckyCharms Mar 21 OP

Negative messaging and "You" statements are proven to be ineffectual in dialogue. Hellbound Hellhound Mar 21 #1

Hard disagree except for your final sentence. LuckyCharms Mar 21 #4

I've edited to add a bit, so you might want to do the same for clarity's sake. Hellbound Hellhound Mar 21 #6

As they say... LuckyCharms Mar 21 #8

We haven't been in a controlled debate about facts for decades. Hellbound Hellhound Mar 21 #14

This is the heart of the matter MadameButterfly Mar 21 #45

"I hope some smart people are working on this" You and me both, friend. Hellbound Hellhound Mar 21 #52

What you do is important MadameButterfly Mar 21 #111

We must not talk SMARTER...we must reach the gut & heart not the brain RunnoDeMille Mar 21 #129

I don't mean TALK smarter MadameButterfly Mar 21 #137

this is a spot on analysis- R0ckyRac00n Mar 21 #47

Don't even worry about credit, friendo. We're on the same side, my thoughts are yours freely. n/t Hellbound Hellhound Mar 21 #49

You aren't meeting JustAnotherGen Mar 22 #150

Buh bye orangecrush Mar 21 #26

I don't know why you're leaving, but bye, I guess? n/t Hellbound Hellhound Mar 21 #28

Negative messaging never seems to hurt TSF. Nt Trueblue Texan Mar 21 #76

It doesn't hurt him, but it plays to his base. It's not picking up new voters but radicalizing those who vote for him.nt Hellbound Hellhound Mar 21 #81

And Trump deliberately uses 6th grade language because it works for him. Lonestarblue Mar 21 #100

..."'That was a damn lie' Tiktok campaign Democrats put out. MorbidButterflyTat Mar 21 #101

Yeah, ridiculed and mocked by everyone that saw the first ten seconds. Hellbound Hellhound Mar 21 #115

If negative messaging doesn't work iyo Meowmee Mar 21 #121

I actually like it when I hear words that I need to look up - but not too many. kerry-is-my-prez Mar 21 #133

Unfortunately many people are either too lazy or too busy to look things up when politicians speak DeeDeeNY Mar 22 #146

The Playing Field Is Not Level DallasNE Mar 22 #155

Maybe you should look up "Kakistocracy" too? dem4decades Mar 21 #2

Well said, LC. FalloutShelter Mar 21 #3

Yes. Smaller words. Fewer words. "They are taking your jobs and money" to the point. Srkdqltr Mar 21 #5

This is the influence from the left-wing media. everyonematters Mar 21 #7

Is that a positive or negative comment? Paladin Mar 21 #19

Your opinion changes on whether the message is delivered in a positive or negative manner? Hellbound Hellhound Mar 21 #24

My opinion won't change. Paladin Mar 21 #30

That's entirely valid and well stated. My compliments. n/t Hellbound Hellhound Mar 21 #31

Thanks. (nt) Paladin Mar 21 #33

That's a negative comment. everyonematters Mar 21 #43

15,000 people came out in Tempe, Arizona for our Fighting Oligarchy tour. Emile Mar 21 #9

They are not coming for the word oligarchy.. LuckyCharms Mar 21 #11

IMO, I disagree, it's working just fine. Emile Mar 21 #13

How about . BattleRow Mar 21 #112

Yes. good! LuckyCharms Mar 21 #114

Brilliant! JustAnotherGen Mar 22 #151

Thank you. BattleRow Mar 22 #154

re: crowd TnDem Mar 21 #51

How about we educate while we're dumbing down shit for the dumbasses? mucholderthandirt Mar 21 #10

In the situation wer are in now? LuckyCharms Mar 21 #15

Well, if you look at voters that you are trying to win over as dumbasses, yagotme Mar 21 #64

I think it's great that you learned two new words. They are good words to know. And if you listened to Nanjeanne Mar 21 #12

I think pattyloutwo Mar 21 #88

No I understood it completely. But thanks. Nanjeanne Mar 21 #89

Words are symbols, not the thing. multigraincracker Mar 21 #16

Dictator duhneece Mar 21 #17

I see your point angrychair Mar 21 #18

I agree 100% with this. LuckyCharms Mar 21 #20

And to think, literacy rates and comprehension rates were actually worse 40 years ago. Elessar Zappa Mar 22 #157

Absolutely right. TheRickles Mar 21 #21

Great post. raccoon Mar 21 #50

You NAILED it, Lucky! GiqueCee Mar 21 #22

You know who excelled at that? tonekat Mar 21 #39

And Frankel's supposed "crime"... GiqueCee Mar 21 #96

Yes, I agree totally wendyb-NC Mar 21 #23

Excellent OP malaise Mar 21 #25

There was a brief and foolish push to use "kakistocracy" Orrex Mar 21 #27

"The secret of the demagogue is to appear as dumb as his audience so people can believe themselves as smart as he is." sop Mar 21 #29

I've noticed that people who are adept at communicating to a broad audience define the terms they use as they speak... Harker Mar 21 #32

No need to do that... Think. Again. Mar 21 #34

Looks like a new adjective will spring up to mean: An imbecile asshole with Narcissistic tendencies. chouchou Mar 21 #35

That's a noun. Dark n Stormy Knight Mar 21 #120

I'm guessing you like Tim Walz. dchill Mar 21 #36

Yes, very much! LuckyCharms Mar 21 #37

We are 30+ years behind the GOP in that regard Ursus Rex Mar 21 #38

I think most educated people know what oligarchy and autocracy means. SidneyR Mar 21 #40

Outside of DU, I'm not sure if I know anyone who would accurately define oligarchy or autocracy LuckyCharms Mar 21 #42

In my mid-twenties, I briefly dated a guy who turned out... 3catwoman3 Mar 21 #65

"ambivalent" - sounds like one of those new woke gender terms. Does It means bivalent in the morning? progree Mar 22 #143

Love the wordplay. SidneyR Mar 23 #162

#tyrant BoRaGard Mar 21 #41

ByGawd 3auld6phart Mar 21 #44

TLDR: Use pictures. Simplest. usonian Mar 21 #46

re: "nazi like" TnDem Mar 21 #48

Add "misogyny" to the kist AverageOldGuy Mar 21 #53

I'm a little surprised that flapping ones hands as though playing an imaginary accordian while speaking Harker Mar 21 #59

Pillars? ShazzieB Mar 21 #110

You've got a good point Ohioboy Mar 21 #54

Been having this convo leighbythesea2 Mar 21 #55

Here's a word for you: "incurious" Orange Buffoon Mar 21 #56

Wise words. louis-t Mar 21 #57

I have always felt that way about those two words William769 Mar 21 #58

Not sure they'll understand the word Mega crazylikafox Mar 21 #62

I think they will. Mega Church's have been around a long time. William769 Mar 21 #63

I have said this for years on DU and I get told that makes us no better than them. AZLD4Candidate Mar 21 #60

You may very well be right. defacto7 Mar 21 #61

Won't matter. The GOP and rich people have taught them over many decades to travelingthrulife Mar 21 #66

No disrespect, but indusurb Mar 21 #67

How about I throw some words at you that I know... LuckyCharms Mar 21 #69

Go for it indusurb Mar 21 #79

Nope. LuckyCharms Mar 21 #80

A shame, indusurb Mar 21 #82

Me too. I learned a long time ago to engage using one word responses with people who LuckyCharms Mar 21 #83

And where have I insulted you? indusurb Mar 21 #84

Oh. LuckyCharms Mar 21 #85

LOL Kali Mar 21 #136

As the apotheosis of use a sesquipedalian lexicon, I am preternaturally uncongenial... NNadir Mar 21 #68

Thanks, I needed this. littlemissmartypants Mar 21 #73

Your heathen, analphabetic use of the Oxford Comma reviles my personage you presumptuous Luddite. /s Hellbound Hellhound Mar 21 #86

This message was self-deleted by its author NNadir Mar 21 #91

This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. JanMichael Mar 21 #138

Ingenious illustrative alliteration indeed. NNadir Mar 22 #142

V introducing himself to Evie in V for Vendeta JanMichael Mar 22 #148

And why not a song? usonian Mar 21 #70

Cheats n Liars Hired by a Felon Prof. P.E. Name Mar 21 #71

Amen! Joinfortmill Mar 21 #72

I prefer... littlemissmartypants Mar 21 #74

Here's my offering on the "simplicity" front pat_k Mar 21 #75

Oligarchy... a funny. So beyond husband in knowledge and aware political. LizBeth Mar 21 #77

I remember watching Leno's 'Jaywalking' Mr.Bee Mar 21 #78

It's a simple question to grasp that for some is ungraspable Sympthsical Mar 21 #87

Do what works on the retail sales floor. Elwood P Dowd Mar 21 #90

The most uneducated person to whom i was close was my father. NNadir Mar 21 #92

The word use t0 be robber barron. Don't know it still isn't used. boston bean Mar 21 #93

May I recommend FrameLab and its newsletter here? Qutzupalotl Mar 21 #94

We are so far down that oligarchy road, frankly its out of date as well JCMach1 Mar 21 #95

LuckyCharms, here's a quote from David Hogg that was posted the other day on DU FakeNoose Mar 21 #97

You make good points. Personally, I am in an existential crisis right now. I get it, but Bob RedHat did not Hekate Mar 21 #98

Great post and I totally agree with the premise of the OP, thank you for bringing it up blue_jay Mar 22 #141

I feel Oligarchy and Autocracy Mblaze Mar 21 #99

Sorry, no. Basso8vb Mar 21 #102

That's great. You know what is a simple word for me? LuckyCharms Mar 21 #107

Both of those words are not only unfamiliar to a lot of people, Ocelot II Mar 21 #103

I've found myself writing "Hey, man" and deleting it lately. It's all so '60s, man. betsuni Mar 21 #139

All true... the vast majority of the population is sub average intelligence... WarGamer Mar 21 #104

That's most of humanity, so adjust your expectations accordingly. Just people. Hekate Mar 21 #122

I never had to use "Oligarchy" before. JohnnyRingo Mar 21 #105

Good ideas senseandsensibility Mar 21 #106

Great post!. Evolve Dammit Mar 21 #108

Living paycheck to paycheck. BarbD Mar 21 #109

Correct!!! KT2000 Mar 21 #113

We should have "Say this, not that" threads meow2u3 Mar 21 #116

See post #98 for links to examples Hekate Mar 21 #126

Bravo BRAVO Ruby the Liberal Mar 21 #117

And instead of saying "authoritarian," say "dictator!" Sogo Mar 21 #118

I tend to agree Meowmee Mar 21 #119

You can't "message" to people who have been brainwashed. valleyrogue Mar 21 #123

When it comes to dumbing down, looks like the felon's anti-woke folks are a step ahead. ancianita Mar 21 #124

A small group of rich people who get rich because they are stealing from the rest of us Oligarchy Clouds Passing Mar 21 #125

Never be afraid of the truth, but always back it up with basics. AmericaUnderSiege Mar 21 #127

Preach! DaBronx Mar 21 #128

NO! I will tutt tutt, wag my fingers and head bob as I please! while yelling "mah climate" out a tesler posting on X Nimble_Idea Mar 21 #130

If you've ever played any version of Civilization, you know what those two words are. Initech Mar 21 #131

In 2006, I did not know what those words meant either, Bluethroughu Mar 21 #132

I keep saying this: talk like normal people tishaLA Mar 21 #134

I agree Figarosmom Mar 21 #135

I actually tried it with republican acquaintances several times and Nope... Bread and Circuses Mar 22 #140

Dumb Down was "not-quite-Petula-Clark's" greatest hit DFW Mar 22 #144

Democrats can use a Frank Luntz-type advisor DeeDeeNY Mar 22 #145

Frank is a mercenary. He works for the highest bidder DFW Mar 22 #147

I'm in 100% Agreement JustAnotherGen Mar 22 #149

YES! LSparkle Mar 22 #152

I am 77 years old and in my entire life I don't think I have heard anyone but a Democratic politition doc03 Mar 22 #153

I disagree with the premise. TheProle Mar 22 #156

I find it disheartening when people project an air of superiority onto others LuckyCharms Mar 22 #158

Knowing those words doesn't make me superior, TheProle Mar 22 #159

Here's the thing. LuckyCharms Mar 22 #160

Thanks, you too. TheProle Mar 22 #161

I knew those words as a teenager Bonx Mar 23 #163