Are Bad Apples Indicative of a Wrong Ideology?

[harvey1]

A recent comment I read said that the U.S. didn't do much in WWII made me ponder whether ideology is really to blame in coming to such addled beliefs. I realize that there's bad apples in every bunch, but at the same time, we can't overlook the affect ideology has on making an otherwise intelligent person into a maladroit thinker. So, my question is, at what point do we consider a "bad apple" (i.e., defective thinker) as indicative of the ideology? For example, does anyone think that certain extreme Islamic fundamentalists are not affected by their ideology being pernicious? It seems that at some point we must look at bad apples as indicative of the philosophies they hold. Can we rule out some forms of atheism for this reason?

[McCulloch]

Does Bush's invasion of Iraq invalidate the concept of elected representative democracy?

[Cathar1950]

No one is wrong all the time are they? Is everyone wrong all the time in the group?
Should we say theism is wrong because their are many pernicious, maladroit thinkers that are theist including fundamentalist?
Should that make up rule out theism?

Does Bush's invasion of Iraq invalidate the concept of elected representative democracy?

I hope not. I hope he is not really representative of Americans.

[harvey1]

Does Bush's invasion of Iraq invalidate the concept of elected representative democracy?

Yes, to a certain degree it does. It shows that the United States is very vunerable to dictatorship just like Gödel suggested.

[achilles12604]

Does Bush's invasion of Iraq invalidate the concept of elected representative democracy?

Yes, to a certain degree it does. It shows that the United States is very vunerable to dictatorship just like Gödel suggested.

Adolf Hitler's book Mein Kampf shows how a democracy can be subverted into a dictatorship over just a few years. The fact that the President can declare emergency actions without anyone else's consent is kind of scary. After all "emergency actions" is just another war. Remember the "police action" of Korea?

[Bugmaster]

If bad apples are indicative of a wrong ideology, then no correct ideologies exist. To disprove this, show me a non-trivial ideology that has no bad apples associated with it.

[Scrotum]

I hope not. I hope he is not really representative of Americans.

He is, he is chosen through a democratic process, end of story. But if you dont like that, perhaps you should change it?

[Cathar1950]

I didn't vote for him. I voted for the other guy so I did my part. All I did is cancel out one republican vote. I did remind by kids to vote and they canceled out two more. My whole Family did their part. I am betting my ex voted against him also. I know a few people that didn't vote but would have voted for Bush and I am glad they didn't. He is a lame duck pres. now anyway. It is time we get over this mistake and move on to the next one.

[OccamsRazor]

The idea that a bad apple may taint the ideaology as a whole seems ridiculous. This idea would be akin to judging the worth of an entire philosophy based on the misguided opinion of one person.

In addition there are also those who use an ideaology to further their own political agenda. This has been shown throughout history and is still rife today. Extreme Muslim clerics request that people commit atrocities largely because it suits their political agenda. Likewise George Bush suggests that military actions were motivated by God. This does not suggest that Christianity and Islam are to blame, rather that individuals are using these beliefs as tools in their politics.