I can& #39;t think of a more paradigmatic example of motivated reasoning that the right deciding that the glib phrase "republic not a democracy" justifies wildly disproportionate political representation for rural white people.

I& #39;m pretty sure if RW media figures told their audiences that their unfair political advantages were justified because argle bargle, you& #39;d have legions of RW posters on here shouting "argle bargle!" with *total conviction*. No irony, no self-awareness -- they& #39;d really believe it!

Conversely, if the fucked-up, arbitrary design features of US government started *disadvantaging* conservatives, the republic-not-a-democracy stuff would fly out the window instantly, replaced by passionate defenses of democracy. And, again, with *total conviction*.

What libs never get, as they chase these arguments around, rebutting them one at a time (again & again), is that for the tribalists on the right, group advantage is primary & justification secondary. You& #39;re never going to dislodge what& #39;s primary by refuting what& #39;s secondary!