Bob's Blog

In 2016, Hillary Clinton’s concerns about the callous reproach of the MAGA movement was ignored because of the media’s distraction by her choice of words. Few adjectives better described the followers of Donald Trump than ‘deplorable’, but people were so offended by a presidential candidate’s honest but blunt assessment of her opponents radical followers, that they failed to seriously consider the reality of what she had to say. Today, eight years later, at the risk of being similarly honest, and offensively blunt; or worse, being labeled an arrogant elitist with an educational background worthy of little more than vilification, someone needs to openly address the intelligence of a movement that has become a cult. So let’s just consider the facts of this thing called MAGA.

In 2018, it was reported that 61% of non-college educated white voters cast ballots for Republicans; and this percentage increased in 2020. College educated voters accounted for 41% of the electorate, and 55% of them supported Joe Biden, to Donald Trump’s 43%. Trump received ⅔ of white voters without a college degree, and in 2024 the education gap only increased according to the Wall Street Journal. They reported that once again “the key division in (the emerging Republican) coalition is education. Voters without college degrees tilt far more Republican than those with them. (And) unfortunately for Democrats, voters without a bachelor’s degree outnumber those with one in the electorate by 57% to 43%!”

So what do we do with this information? Clearly, there is all kinds of evidence pointing to a lack of formal education among MAGA voters! That simply cannot be denied, and the implications cannot be underestimated. In fact it is evidenced by their susceptibility to conspiracy theories, ‘alternate’ facts, and most tragically their embracing of an arm of Christianity that lacks any sort of intellectual credibility. So is it any wonder that as the second presidency of the felon in the White House continues, so many continue to question his ability, as well as the ability of his friends and followers, to reasonably and rationally deal with any of the complexities facing our nation and our world.

Now let’s be clear, a college degree is not a measure of one’s intelligence! Intelligence is the ability to acquire, understand, and use knowledge; and a college degree does not guarantee any of this. Just as standing in a garage doesn’t make one a car, and just as going to church or being part of a faith community is not a measure of one’s spirituality, attending university does not necessarily affirm a person’s capacity to think, process information, discern truth from fiction, or learn. It does not guarantee intelligence! 

However, that being said, formal education is about learning to think. It’s about a person acquiring new information and discovering things that have never before been heard or considered. It’s about being exposed to a rational approach to concepts and ideas so that we might better understand what is, as well as what might be! And it’s about developing the skills needed to put this new information and understanding to use in the creation of a better world! Higher education may be far from perfect, however it has helped billions of people around the world  learning to think and growing their intelligence! And as a result, society has been bettered! Minds have been opened and new and advanced realities have been allowed to find their way to fruition! And while here in America, higher education has often been regarded as little more than a means to a good job, for countless students it has actually been about so much more! Education has been a means to intellectual, emotional, and psychological health, and as a result it has broadened minds and expanded hearts.

Tragically, the vast majority of uneducated citizens in this country voted for Donald Trump, both in 2016 and in 2024.  And while JD Vance believes that not everyone needs a college education, and that for some, tradesshools may be a better option, the success of any democracy depends upon a well-educated populace. Our nation’s founders knew this 250 years ago, and sadly, we’re all being forced to grapple with this truth yet today! And while using the adjective ‘ignorant’ to describe the MAGA cult today may not necessarily be any more appealing than using the term ‘deplorable’, it is no less accurate. And we simply need to admit that. This nation is being led by the ignorant, and unless things change, our democracy is doomed!

How do things change? Stay tuned for part 2.