Dogmaphobe
Diamond Member
Begs the question: Are these people stupid on purpose or by design?
The strong anti-Intellectual themes they parrot are little more than a conditioned response. Hannity, Limbaugh, Beck and others have convinced them that the word "elite" does not mean the actual elites in this country -- the captains of industry and such -- but anybody who furthers their education at a University. It is just an old trick demagogues have always used to drum up popular support as they create the sense of resentment and then offer the reward. In this case, the resentment is based upon education while the reward offered is to call all those who agree with the demagogue the real smart people.
So, to answer the question, I would say both. The people who repeat all the stale framing devices are stupid, but there is a definite design to it. It may not be by their own design, but it is by design nevertheless.