RIGHTWINGSPARKLE

I suppose I could write a book on the condescension and insults the left media has poured out on us "red staters" since Tues. But this one Slate article pretty much sums them all up. h/t to NRO

Jane Smiley tells us: (emphasis mine)
" I grew up in Missouri and most of my family voted for Bush, so I am going to be the one to say it: The election results reflect the decision of the right wing to cultivate and exploit ignorance in the citizenry. I suppose the good news is that 55 million Americans have evaded the ignorance-inducing machine. But 58 million have not. (Well, almost 58 million—my relatives are not ignorant, they are just greedy and full of classic Republican feelings of superiority.)

Of course her relatives aren't ignorant. And it is Republicans that feel superior, not her, as you can clearly see.

"The error that progressives have consistently committed over the years is to underestimate the vitality of ignorance in America"

That doesn't sound the least bit snotty or superior, now does it? Those Democrats (uhh...'progressives') are really the sweet ones. It's obvious.

"Here is how ignorance works: First, they put the fear of God into you—if you don't believe in the literal word of the Bible, you will burn in hell. Of course, the literal word of the Bible is tremendously contradictory, and so you must abdicate all critical thinking, and accept a simple but logical system of belief that is dangerous to question. A corollary to this point is that they make sure you understand that Satan resides in the toils and snares of complex thought and so it is best not try it."

Something tells me this woman has spent zero time in church or reading the Bible. She is certainly ignorant ( is ok for me to use that term?) of Catholic theology. Galileo, one of the greatest scientific minds ever and a devout Catholic once said "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." As it turns out, neither do most of us Christians. Galileo taught us and the Church long ago that science is the canvas upon which God paints his mysteries.
Maybe Ms. Smiley ( an ironic name if there ever was one) would be surprised to know that like her relatives, most of us red staters are not ignorant. But, unlike her relatives, we are not greedy. Here is a little known fact. Under Reagan us greedy little pre-nightmare scrooges gave more to charity than in other time in history.
But Smiley goes on to describe how 'they' keep us ignorant:

"..when life grows difficult or fearsome, they (politicians, preachers, pundits) encourage you to cling to your ignorance with even more fervor. But by this time you don't need much encouragement—you've put all your eggs into the ignorance basket.."

Feeling superior is the hallmark of the left and the elite media. For them to use that term for us is truly laughable. It's like Donald Trump calling Mother Teresa egotistical.