Intellects and U.S. Politics

“Intellect Is Out in U.S Politics” is a concise reflection of the weird and self-destructive behavior of American voters and their ignoring of--or ignorance of--their own history. The very foundations of our democracy (“Common Sense,” the Declaration of Independence, our Constitution and its Bill of Rights) were mainly the products of that era’s intellectuals; Thomas Jefferson, Tom Paine, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, to mention but a few of the best known. They were learned men, theorists, philosophers, as well as doers.

One must ponder now what odd convolutions have transpired in our national thinking that we turn away from educated and thoughtful men and women as leaders in favor of such mental duds as a Ronald Reagan or a Dan Quayle when we so sorely need people trained and educated in politics, government, economics, world affairs and sociology.

If the average citizens have trouble with their cars they have sense enough to consult trained mechanics. If their teeth hurt they go to persons educated in dentistry. Why then when it comes to the ills of the nation and the very fate of the world do they turn to B-movie actors or lawyers or almost anyone with a good PR team and lots of money to splurge on campaigning?

WALT HOPMANS

Santa Barbara