American Intellectuals Overlook American Virtue

Alexis de Tocqueville was one of the first commentators to recognize the anti-intellectualism of American Society.

I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and
real freedom of discussion as in America.

Anti-intellectualism is a celebrated virtue in America. American virtues include hard work, simple fairness, small towns, assertive decision making, things that symbolize the pioneers and farm life, and courage and bravery. These are all anti-intellectual pursuits. Anti-intellecualism is also void of ideology. Ideology requires the assertion of non-simple activities; it requires complex organization and the institution of complex rules. Anti-intellectualism requires none of this... it is perhaps true conservatism.

Anti-intellectualism is the character of George W. Bush and it is the root of the nomination of Harriet Miers. John Adams Society types are mostly intellectuals so I can see why the opposition to Miers at JAS is so great. Do the anti-intellectuals who voted Bush into office deserve their pick? Perhaps.