Elections and Complexity

[Jochen Fromm]

For us in Germany it is hard to believe
why so many Americans have voted Bush.
The Media coverage about the Bush administration
is not very positive here. I guess Media coverage
in the USA was a bit different. And we did not
see any of the great TV ads here. They were
certainly one factor which influenced the voters
(perhaps more than complicated policies and laws)
see "The TV ad that put Bush over the top"
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/11/05/bush_ads/index_np.html

Fortunately, not every US citizen seems to
be happy about a new "United States of Texas",
"New American Empire" or "Republic of Halliburton"
http://sorryeverybody.com/ 

Bush thinks the world is simple and static,
devided into good and evil ("Axis Of Evil"),
friend and enemy, Americans and Terrorists.
http://www.karto.ethz.ch/neumann/fun/world_map_usa.html
The real world is much more complex and constantly
changing. To be fully aware of the complexity of the world
is not easy, and it naturally leads to uncertainty
and doubts, which seems to be unattractive to voters.

It is of course easier to believe the world
is simple, and if something goes wrong, it
is someones fault. You can say that Bush
represented simplicity and Kerry complexity.
Although simplicity is associated
with stupidity and complexity with intelligence
(intelligence is connected to the complexity of
cognitve schemes), simplicity and simple answers
seem to be more attractive for the masses.
The states with the highest average IQ selected
Kerry and his complex view of the world:
http://attenuation.net/files/iq.htm

(This election reminds me a bit of the dark
German past: Barrington Moore says in his book
"Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy",
that the German Nazis in the last free
election 1932 were supported mainly by the
rural population: the "stupid" countryfolk.
A key element of Hitler's appeal was the sense
of offended national pride, and Bush appeals with
the constant "War against Terror" to the same offended
national pride, which was wounded at September
11th. Bush represented after September 11th
the feelings of a typical american citizen:
he was confused, he announced revenge and he
declared war - three things he is really good
at. Many scientists and liberal citizens are
now after the election a bit frustrated. The
frustration and disappointment after the election
1932 of many intelligent scientists and liberal
citizens was similar. Einstein for instance finally
emigrated to the USA.)

[David Williams]

Speaking of the axis of evil, here is an oldie but a goodie:

-------------------
Bitter after being snubbed for membership in the "Axis of Evil", Libya,
China and Syria today announced that they had formed the "Axis of Just as
Evil", which they said would be more evil than that stupid Iran-Iraq-North
Korea axis President Bush warned of in his State of the Union address.

Axis of Evil members, however, immediately dismissed the new Axis as having,
for starters, a really dumb name. "Right. They are just as evil ... in their
dreams!" declared North Korean leader Kim Jong-II. "Everybody knows we're
the best evils ... best at being evil ... we're the best".

Diplomats from Syria denied they were jealous over being excluded, although
they conceded they did ask if they could join the Axis of Evil. "They told
us it was full", said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "An axis can't have
more than three countries", explained Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "This
is not my rule, it's tradition. In World War II you had Germany, Italy, and
Japan in the evil Axis. So, you can only have three, and a secret handshake.
Ours is wickedly cool".

International reaction to Bush's Axis of Evil declaration was swift, as
within minutes, France surrendered. Elsewhere, peer-conscious nations rushed
to gain triumvirate status in what has become a game of geopolitical chairs.

Cuba, Sudan and Serbia announced that they had formed the "Axis of Somewhat
Evil", forcing Somalia to join with Uganda and Myanmar in the "Axis of
Occasionally Evil", while Bulgaria, Indonesia and Russia established the
"Axis of Not So Much Evil Really as Just Generally Disagreeable".

With the criteria suddenly expanded and all the desirable clubs filling up,
Sierra Leone, El Salvador and Rwanda applied to be called the "Axis of
Countries That Aren't the Worst But Certainly Won't Be Asked to Host the
Olympics".

Canada, Mexico and Australia formed the "Axis of Nations That Are Actually
Quite Nice But Secretly Have Some Nasty Thoughts About America", while
Scotland, New Zealand and Spain established the "Axis of Countries That Want
Sheep to Wear Lipstick". "That's not a threat, really, just something we
like to do", said Scottish Executive First Minister Jack McConnell.

While wondering if the other nations of the world weren't perhaps making fun
of him, a cautious Bush granted approval for most axes, although he rejected
the establishment of the "Axis of Countries Whose Names End in 'Guay",
accusing one of its members of filing a false application. Officials from
Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chadguay denied the charges.

Israel, meanwhile, insisted it didn't want to join any Axis, but privately
world leaders said that's only because no one asked them.
 

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf
Of Jochen Fromm
Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2004 4:24 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [FRIAM] Elections and Complexity

For us in Germany it is hard to believe
why so many Americans have voted Bush.
The Media coverage about the Bush administration is not very positive here.
I guess Media coverage in the USA was a bit different. And we did not see
any of the great TV ads here. They were certainly one factor which
influenced the voters (perhaps more than complicated policies and laws) see
"The TV ad that put Bush over the top"
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/11/05/bush_ads/index_np.html

Fortunately, not every US citizen seems to be happy about a new "United
States of Texas", "New American Empire" or "Republic of Halliburton"
http://sorryeverybody.com/ 

Bush thinks the world is simple and static, devided into good and evil
("Axis Of Evil"), friend and enemy, Americans and Terrorists.
http://www.karto.ethz.ch/neumann/fun/world_map_usa.html
The real world is much more complex and constantly changing. To be fully
aware of the complexity of the world is not easy, and it naturally leads to
uncertainty and doubts, which seems to be unattractive to voters.

It is of course easier to believe the world is simple, and if something goes
wrong, it is someones fault. You can say that Bush represented simplicity
and Kerry complexity.
Although simplicity is associated
with stupidity and complexity with intelligence (intelligence is connected
to the complexity of cognitve schemes), simplicity and simple answers seem
to be more attractive for the masses.
The states with the highest average IQ selected Kerry and his complex view
of the world:
http://attenuation.net/files/iq.htm

(This election reminds me a bit of the dark German past: Barrington Moore
says in his book "Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy", that the
German Nazis in the last free election 1932 were supported mainly by the
rural population: the "stupid" countryfolk.
A key element of Hitler's appeal was the sense of offended national pride,
and Bush appeals with the constant "War against Terror" to the same offended
national pride, which was wounded at September 11th. Bush represented after
September 11th the feelings of a typical american citizen:
he was confused, he announced revenge and he declared war - three things he
is really good at. Many scientists and liberal citizens are now after the
election a bit frustrated. The frustration and disappointment after the
election
1932 of many intelligent scientists and liberal citizens was similar.
Einstein for instance finally emigrated to the USA.)



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