# To all Trump supporters

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-trump-supporters/777915>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [January 23, 2017, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-trump-supporters/777915 "2017-01-23T03:19:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 50

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**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2017, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-trump-supporters/777915/50 "2017-01-23T10:45:02Z")

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So what gives? Obviously about half of white American have an IQ of 100+; how could they vote for the dismal sociopath? I think we can get some insight by listening to a Republican who was, barely, smart enough to vote for Hillary:

> [@I live in the US, but I don't vote. Never have, never will. Ask Me Anything if you want.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/196):
>
> Because it seems relevant, I will share my own experience of voting today. I have always voted, in every election since I was eligible…
> 
> … I started to mark the ballot. I couldn’t.
> 
> I passed over the presidential electors, marked my choice for US Representative, chose my options for various bond issues… and then stared at the president’s choice again.
> 
> Finally I marked it for Trump. I couldn’t vote for Clinton.
> 
> I stood up and walked towards the scanner… and then I couldn’t put it in the scanner; I couldn’t vote for Trump.
> 
> I marked my ballot VOID and requested a new one. Sat back down. Filled out all the other spots again.
> 
> Finally I marked Clinton, stood up again. Sent the ballot into the scanner before I could change my mind again.

Does this strike other rationalists as bizarre? One makes up one’s mind about a key election in advance; finally marking the ballot is a straightforward formality. If I needed to make a vote I disliked there might be some early “soul-searching” _but the actual act on Election Day would be simple routine_. As with most Dopers, my political decisions are made with my head.

Not so for the amygdala-bloated “conservatives.” [Cite.](https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-human-beast/201104/conservatives-big-fear-brain-study-finds) [Cite.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI-un8rHP14) [Video, mentioning that brain structure outperforms even parents’ orientation as a political orientation indicator.](http://2012election.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004818) Liberals tend to have a developed anterior cingulate gyrus — the part of brain that processes new information. Conservatives tend to have a large amygdala — a “reptilian” part of the brain that generates emotions like fear and disgust.

Bricker has a well-developed brain (obviously I’m speaking metaphorically when I call him an “imbecile”) and is to be applauded for overcoming his bloated amygdala on that fateful Tuesday. Yet his post is instructive. It’s hard to imagine a normal rational thinker going through that experience at the polling station. His bloated amygdala, his need to map politics to the emotions of fear and disgust, was starkly on display.

Conservatives seem eager to inspect genital structure before allowing a citizen to use a bathroom. Perhaps we should inspect brain structure before allowing a citizen to vote! 😛 :smack:

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