Conservative Brains and Liberal Brains

Our political differences are all in our minds. New Scientist, the British weekly scientific magazine, recently reported a new study involving the formation of political opinions. The cover story is titled, “Two Tribes: Are Your Genes Liberal or Conservative?” A new book by author Chris Mooney is titled, “The Republican Brain,” and claims our politically “Right” and “Left” brains are hard-wired to think differently. Last week, a segment on MSNBC featured way-over-the-top emotions of Republicans who lost the election, pointing out the differences between the Conservative mind and the Liberal mind.

They say we were born that way! Some of us are born Conservatives; others are born Liberals. Apparently, some of us are born Tea Partiers!

Sounds a little “predestined” to me, a little Presbyterian; some people are foreordained to be conservative – and, therefore, bound for heaven. Others of us are predetermined liberals – and bound for hell. Independents are, obviously, emotional agnostics, and will make up their minds at the very last minute – hold on there, Mr. Pollster, we’ll be right with you.

If you buy the “we’re born with it” emotional canard, on voting day you can just blacken all the circles on your emotionally favored side of the ballot, and go watch your favorite talking head on Fox News or MSNBC. Why tax your brain thinking about it? Isn’t that how Bush II got elected – we just weren’t thinking?

In the days ahead, when important decisions must be made about healthcare, global warming, war in the Middle East, and sand replenishment on North County beaches, I hope we find deeper, more scientific reasoning and rational judgment at work in the electorate as well as in the brains of the born leaders we recently elected.