Jim Alfredson

The main problem with a wide swath of the American public and perhaps the human race in general is not necessarily intellectual stupidity (though there's plenty of that to go around) but more destructively emotional stupidity. In other words, a lack of empathy and compassion. Which is ironic considering the majority of people consider themselves members of a faith that is supposed to be built around empathy and compassion.

Fear seems to override all of that, however; the reptilian, fight or flight part of our brain that reacts automatically to perceived danger which is the manifestation of not being in control of your own life. This leads to stigmatization and demonization of large groups of people for being 'different' while glorifying those like ourselves, those stuck in the same morass, as we scapegoat the 'others' in a feeble attempt to exert power in the face of our own powerlessness.

It takes more than book smarts to see through the ruse, a ruse that dishonest leaders, businessmen, entertainers, marketers, etc. use to their own advantage. It takes self-awareness and self-control as well as self-confidence. But more importantly it takes emotional intelligence.