For a quick introduction, listen to this interview on KPFT – Spare Change with Larry Winters (July 24, 2010).

What does “fight stupidization” mean?
Remember when you were introduced to 1984 in high school (the George Orwell novel, not the Van Halen album), and you thought that the concept of Newspeak was something that could exist only in a story? It seems Orwell was peering into our dim future and seeing a time when being well-read would be a liability, something that only effete elitists do while drinking coffee made from beans that were pooped out by a weasel onto the Sunday edition of the New York Times. When the pursuit of knowledge would be seen as something negative that real, honest to goodness Americans don’t have time to do, what with hunting terrorists, watching My Pregnant Teen Hoarder and wearing flag lapel pins made in China. When everyone is expected to make snap judgments about any situation, no matter how complex or limited the information might be, rather than taking their time to craft a reasoned response based on fact and not emotion.

In other words, people are becoming really fucking stupid, wearing their stupidity like a badge of honor. And their stupidity keeps growing like some horrible rolling snowball of idiocy that is plowing down everything in its path. That’s why it’s time to fight stupidization.

Why is stupidization dangerous?
If you want to control people, keep them scared and take away their ability to express themselves. Get them to focus on peripheral issues that don’t matter so they won’t notice that, while you’re putting one supportive hand on their shoulder, you’re grabbing the wallet out of their back pocket with the other hand. Encourage them to value superficiality over depth. Medicate them with pills, booze, food, television and the promise of their upcoming 15 minutes, but only if they’re good and don’t think too much.

How do I fight stupidization?
Pay attention. Read books. Turn off your knee jerk reflex. Get the facts. View from multiple sides. Ask questions. Be willing to hear answers you may not like. Don’t just give up and let the stupid people win.