The Liberal Politics & Current Events Book Club discussion

We'll be reading The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science--And Reality by Chris C. Mooney through the end of April.

This thread can be used to give book reviews as well as for a general discussion of the book. Please feel free to start a new discussion in the book club folder if you'd like to focus on specific aspects of or ideas from the book.

So it's been almost a year, but one chapter at time, I have finally finished "The Republican Brain." The most interesting part of this book, I thought, was the chapter that looked at how liberal and conservatives brains differ. Liberals have more empathy, compassion, willingness to learn and be open to new experiences, while conservative brains are more set to defensiveness and authority. Mooney doesn't suggest or, should I say, overgeneralize. It's not that conservatives do not have empathy or liberals do not use their instincts to defend themselves, its just that liberals have more of some characteristics that make up the brain, while conservatives have more of other characteristics of the brain. Mooney used this chapter to explain why conservatives are more likely want to spend the budget of defense spending and why civil rights and, as of today, gay rights have been taking up by liberals in office.

Did anyone else read this book? What does everyone else think?

Lee

Here's an article from Mother Jones:

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2...

Jimmy,

I've read that article, Mooney references many of his articles in the book. Jimmy, what do you think about the article? Mooney talks about what liberals have gotten wrong when it comes to science; fracking, shots linked to autism; and nuclear power. I never believed in the linked between "shots and autism" theory. But I am a firm believer in fracking being bad for the environment. And since reading the book, have changed my mind on nuclear power, which as a liberal, is what Mooney thinks I would accomplish taking in new material, different information, and considering different view points.

Lee

I agree with him on nuclear power, but don't squeal on me to any liberals.

The vaccination thing is not a liberal issue. I look at it as something fringe lunatics on the right and left feel threatened by.

From what I know, fracking appears to be bad for the environment. But I really have very little knowledge about how it is done.

Jimmy,

I agree.