Different views does not mean stupid

Dominic Lawson began a piece in the Indy this week with the following comment:

"It is one of the most cherished illusions of the left that conviction politicians of the right are stupid: not just wrong, but actually obtuse. The consequences of such prejudice are obvious: colossal underestimation, leading to blind arrogance, and thus electoral defeat."

Although this statement is completely true, it is unfortunately also the case that far too many Tories make exactly the same mistake about left-wingers and many Lib/Dems are equally quick to jump to the same wrong conclusion about anybody on the left or the right.

No political view has a monopoly of intelligence or stupidity. No names or pack-drill, but I've certainly met some Conservatives who made Piers from "The New Statesman" look bright, some socialists who could perform the same office for two short planks, and some Lib/Dems who have less common sense than the average five-year old. I have also met people in all three parties who were intelligent, interesting, honest, and cared deeply about doing the right thing for their local communities.

Unfortunately if you are totally convinced of something there is a huge temptation to assume without even really noticing that you are making the assumption that anyone who can't see it must be an idiot. But it ain't necessarily so.

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