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Some Republicanism May Be Genetic

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There MAY be a genetic predisposition to SOME who are fanatical, that is to say extremely Republican adherents. In a recent study done by researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, certain genes associated with depression and other forms of mental illness were found that were capable of enlarging an area of the brain that fosters NEGATIVE emotions. An observation here: Clearly, there seems to be quite a significantly more negative ascription of Democrats by SOME Republicans in their perception of Democratic programs, interests and motivations than is true of how Democrats regard Republicans. Naturally, this won't explain the impulses of all Republicans, but we might find that it assists with understanding some of the more ardent ones. Some psychiatric help might be sometimes warranted.

A seratonin transporter gene is expressed in two forms or variants. The gene that is called "short", or SERT-s, is different from the gene that's labeled as "long" or SERT-l. Those who possess two SERT-s genes had what is termed pulvinars (an area of the brain which deals in negative emotions) that were found to be 20% larger with 20% more nerve cells than other people with either ONE or two SERT-l genes. The gene influences serotonin, which is a chemical or neurotransmitter associated with changes in mood. The researchers found these special differences by studying brains of 49 people who were deceased. Anyway, the researchers believe that about 17% of the entire population has two copies of the above-mentioned SERT-s gene and that these people do seem to experience deeper depressions and be more sensitive to emotional stimuli than is true of others with one or no SERT-s genes.

As we regard emotions, then, which may be either positive or negative, we look at JOY, HOPE, ANGER, PASSION, DEPRESSION and GUILT. Emotions do not necessarily adhere to rational thought. In other words, a person might think, "I really shouldn't be angry with that person," but their rational understandings are often disregarded, and negative emotions nevertheless take over as they become angry anyway. Denial can certainly accompany negative feelings.

When a person believes something or someone (or the nation) is AT RISK, they experience un-asked for fear and anxiety. Being alarmed also goes hand-in-hand with confusion and a feeling of being overwhelmed. Anxiety, likewise, ... feeling that things are inevitably going to turn out badly and "nothing can be done about it," or "things won't get any better," is a feeling of vulnerability, a feeling of being UNSAFE. (Does the threat of TERRORISM, now, seem to ring a bell here? These people are prime targets for fear-mongers.) Those who feel anxious seek to solve whatever problem is perceived. PLANS for such solutions become overwhelmingly important: there is great comfort in having a PLAN. It becomes an all-in-all.

Let us, then, look at the threat of terrorism more realistically. The United States, while considerably more accessible to everyone than it was prior to air travel, is still comparatively isolated in the ability for protecting it. Prior to 9/11, except for Pearl Harbor, there hadn't been any significant attack on our homeland (nor has there been since then), and with due diligence that general protection can continue. This isn't to suggest that we needn't maintain a high level of diligent caution. There IS such a thing as terrorism, of that there can be no doubt. And since the wholesale policy of alienation (and, we add, the war in Iraq) of other cultures and countries by the present administration, TERRORISM's threat has INCREASED, not DECREASED. However, from Schizophrenia.com, we learn the following definition: "Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease. Approximately 1 percent of the population develops schizophrenia during their lifetime- More than 2 million Americans suffer from the illness in a given year. Although schizophrenia affects men and women with equal frequency, the disorder often appears earlier in men, usually in the late teens or early twenties, than in women, who are generally affected in the twenties to early thirties. People with schizophrenia often suffer terrifying symptoms such as hearing internal voices not heard by others, or believing that other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them."

Some evangelicals who REQUIRE an intensity of emotional experiences in their practice of religion and church preferences (a-la Ted Haggard's style of blame, guilt, and -- we can exprapolate here -- SIN) might be partly explained by the SERT-s genetic predisposition. And haven't we often felt, "Those people need help!" Republicanism MIGHT, in part (and in some), be genetic.
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