20% Of The People Will Always Believe Something Stupid

Picking up on the polls about the people who continue to believe that President Obama is Muslim, The Washington Post finds that 20% of the population can always be counted on to be just a little stupid:

. . . thinks socialism is superior to capitalism, according to a 2009 Rasmussen survey.

. . . believes that the harsh techniques used to interrogate terrorism suspects after Sept. 11, 2001, were torture but still legitimate, according to a 2009 CNN poll.

. . . believes in the right of a state to secede, according to a 2008 Zogby poll.

. . . thinks marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol, according to a recent Rasmussen poll.

. . . believes that intelligent beings from other planets have made contact with humans on Earth, according to a 2006 CBS News poll.

. . . believes that the government “enjoys the consent of the governed,” according to a February Rasmussen telephone survey.

. . . admits to peeing in pools, according to a 2009 survey by the Water Quality and Health Council.

Also, these people are eligible to vote.

FILED UNDER: Public Opinion Polls, Terrorism, US Politics, , , , , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Vast Variety says:

    I DO believe that aliens have been in contact with people on Earth… I mean seriously, how else do you explain some of our politicians.

    /end sarcasm

  2. Westcliff says:

    @Vast Variety — why the sarcasm? It’s true, proven during the 1996 presidential election….

    Homer: America, take a good look at your beloved candidates. They’re nothing but hideous space reptiles.

    Kodos: It’s true, we are aliens. But what are you going to do about it? It’s a two-party system; you have to vote for one of us.

    Man1: He’s right, this is a two-party system.

    Man2: Well, I believe I’ll vote for a third-party candidate.

    Kang: Go ahead, throw your vote away!!

  3. Zelsdorf Ragshaft III says:

    I noticed you left off the one where 20% of people think socialism is superior to capitalism. Why did you do that Doug? Let us guess. Guess those folks who think Obama is a Muslim are wrong. But, just for the sake of arguement, let us look at a brief history. He was born to a Muslim father and is named a Muslim name.. His step father is or was a Muslim and he registered for school in Indonesia as a Muslim. We do not know what faith he practiced during his years of college but I suggest it had something to do with Bolivian flake. He supposedly converted (?) to Christianity at the church presided over by Jeremiah Wright. Wright is a supporter of Louis Farrakhan and a quick listen to sermons delivered by Wright talk about a lot of things but very little of it could be called Christian. Obama clearly states his Muslim faith on Meet the Press with George Stephonoplous (?). Yet those who might deduce Obama could be a Muslim, not that there is anything wrong with that, are somehow stupid. Only to the sheep who are incapable of independent thinking could that be true. Doug, Muslims have no use for gays, why are you protecting them?

  4. Patrick T. McGuire says:

    Given that half of the population of the US have below average intelligence, this isn’t surprising at all.

  5. Herb says:

    Zels, you overestimate your ability to convince.

    “Yet those who might deduce Obama could be a Muslim, not that there is anything wrong with that, are somehow stupid. Only to the sheep who are incapable of independent thinking could that be true.”

    Here’s the thing, bud. There’s nothing to “deduce.” Obama has openly admitted that he’s a Christian. I have no reason to doubt him. You say you’re a Christian, you go to a Christian church, well, I guess you’re a Christian.

    You make appeals to independent thinking, but it remains to be seen that what you’re doing even qualifies as “thinking,” and as informed as it is by the conspiracy theories of the day, it certainly doesn’t qualify as “independent.”

  6. Zelsdorf Ragshaft III says:

    Some of you who post here should possibly visit Ace Of Spades site. He has posted some very interesting information which, if true will contain enough egg to cover the faces of many here. Herb, Obama openly admitted he was a moderate at one one too. Sadly, Black Liberation Theology is far from being Christian based, and since that is Obama’s tie to Christianity it calls into question much of what he has said about his beliefs. I personally care less what he believes. I just notice he seldom attends Church but then neither do I. I think the problem for Obama is he voted present once again. When he is in the company of Muslims he wants to be one of them when he is acting like what his job calls for he can play the Christian card. He needs to pick a horse and ride it. One thing sure. I’ll bet for the next little while, Obama spends a lot more Sundays in Church than on the links.

  7. 20% self-identify as liberal. U can lookitup. 🙂

    http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com/
    “Because the Only Good Progressive is a Failed Progressive”

  8. Herb says:

    “Sadly, Black Liberation Theology is far from being Christian based, and since that is Obama’s tie to Christianity it calls into question much of what he has said about his beliefs. I personally care less what he believes.”

    It’s strange to me that you’re raising alarms about things that you personally don’t care about. I think you do care. I think you care maybe a bit too much.

    But unfortunately you don’t seem to care if you’re wrong.

  9. Brummagem Joe says:

    A sizeable segment of the US population is ill informed, stupid, or just downright crazy. This is not news.

  10. grampagravy says:

    Beliefs have nothing whatsoever to do with intelligence. They are just decisions usually made with some self-interest in mind. Just look at the huge numbers of intelligent people who flock to churches because the promise of an afterlife is so doggone cozy.