One of my favorite passages from the book, on page 28:
The last two decades have witnessed a concerted effort from certain segments of the Republican Party to downplay the value of critical thinking. This strategy, whether overt or subtle, serves a dual purpose: it solidifies base support and undermines institutions that promote critical thought, such as academia. The "liberal indoctrination" narrative not only discredits educational institutions but also paints intellectualism and critical thinking as enemies of so-called traditional values. This anti-intellectual sentiment feeds into a broader narrative where experts such as scientists, economists, or educators are viewed with inherent suspicion. Under MAGA Trumpism, it has become a point of pride not to trust actual experts, instead supporting and trusting a cadre of nonexperts who compete with those bringing actual knowledge of the subject under discussion.
Last edited by Gunnar on Thu May 22, 2025 1:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
No precept or claim is more suspect or more likely to be false than one that can only be supported by invoking the claim of Divine authority for it--no matter who or what claims such authority.