Are right-wing people less intelligent?

[JimT]

From my personal experience, and based on the discussions here, that's how it seems to me. Unsophisticated arguments based on ignorance and lack of understanding generally seem more likely to come from right-wingers. They also tend to have a bee in their bonnets about what they see as "the educated classes" and anything to do with intellectualism. Their totem, their idol, Margaret Thatcher, disliked the arts, culture and intellectualism, as do many of her followers. The Tories always seemed, traditionally, to be the 'stupid' party. Sure, there are right-wing intellectuals in the media. But your average right-winger on the street seems to me to be of the meat-headed thuggish blokeish Sun-reading species. Is there a correlation?

[joeluke]

Alex, never seen a DM in windscreen of a white van

[jake-the-peg]

Getting back to the point

There are some profundly intelligent right-wing thinkers, but the appeal of right wing philosophy is not on an intellectual basis but rather on an emotional one.

Look at the stereotypes aimed at left wingers - generally associated with images of intelectuals belying the insecurities of those hurling them.

I don't think being right wing makes someone less intelligent but I do suspect that the less intelligent to be attracted to right wing ideas as they don't stretch the brain too much!

[sandyRoe]

Not literally^^^^

[DaisyNonna]

Do not read The Sun so would have difficulty finding any article.

[alexanderd]

Joe only when I was driving it lol

[Count-A-Strong]

I think Jake's summed it up perfectly.

[joeluke]

My team has Gareth Bale on its left wing and Aaron Lennon on its right

I couldn't care less how intelligent they are as long as they play well

[joeluke]

Alex, lol, you are obviously the one!

[jake-the-peg]

Were they in X-factor?

[JimT]

Oh and I also meant to say, I also find right-wingers more likely to be unmerciful and inhumane in their statements and opinions, with a tendency for unthinkingly advocating bloodthirsty retribution for all manner of wrongdoings.

@DTcrosswordfan - highly amused by your post - thank you. I find it highly unlikely that this could be the stupidest political thread this month, given the kind of numbskulled political tub-thumping multiple thread-making from certain members that occurs on AB on a daily basis. Yes, as I said, there will no doubt be right-wingers of sufficiently brainy calibre to have FRSA after their names. But you're sorely deceiving yourself by suggesting my comments were better aimed at the political extremes.

[joeluke]

^ I tend to have 'a tendency for unthinkingly advocating bloodthirsty retribution for all manner of wrongdoings'

The b@$t@rd$ wouldn't do it again though would they?

[alexanderd]

this could turn nasty as a peace-loving right-winger I am out of here!!

[ummmm]

Jake...I have to say that you are the person on AB that I agree with the most (news area). I thought I was right wing. I'm clearly not....and happy to be that way :-)

[askyourgran]

Oh so according to your first para ^^^ most of our resident jihadists are right wing then! And me too come to that, except I don't read a red-top paper, thanks v much.

[Answerprancer]

"never seen a DM in windscreen of a white van"
That's probably because it is mostly read by older right wingers (who enjoy being made to feel angry).

[The-Toff-]

jim i think that you a slightly mad.

[jake-the-peg]

Oh no Ummmmm - now I'm under pressure

Would like to acknowledge Joe Lukes correct point about the Sun supporting Blair though.

It was funny to hear their official pronouncement of their change of allegience after months of hatchet work - as if they'd reached a full and firm conclusion after weighing all the facts.

I suspect an E-mail from Rupert Murdoch was more likely

[Andyvon]

Are you a 'right-winger' then Jim?

From your sweeping and closed-minded views of a significant percentage of the population you are obviously a 'meat-headed thug' or 'bloke' yourself mate!

[alexanderd]

Answerprancer I will admit to being older( nearly 70) but I have been taking the DM for more years than I care to remember, and, before you ask, no I dont believe everything I read in it any more than any other newspaper

[Answerprancer]

Well that's good - at least one of their readers can see past the twisted facts and manipulative nature of this publication.