Does THIS Explain 'Republican Math'?

Clearly, odd malformations and bulging distortions of the amygdala are associated with certain fears, phobias and paranoias seen in conservatives, which I've written about here.

I've used the phrase 'Republican Math' which, like revisionist history, occurs where the Right pretty much makes up numbers, rather than representing accurate accounting or projections or most common, objective economic figures. 

Until I read this, I had assumed it was simple intellectual dishonesty, rather than incompetence.  Now I'm less sure.  Perhaps the University College London needs to see if there is a political component to this brain difference the way they did with the amygdala, to explain the vagaries and inaccuracies of 'Republican Math':

Bad at math -- or is it dyscalculia?
Described as the mathematical equivalent of dyslexia, dyscalculia is a little-known disorder that makes it extremely difficult to learn math. While dyslexics struggle with reading and interpreting words and letters, dyscalculics have a hard time with basic arithmetic and understanding the meaning and concepts of numbers.

Although often a forgotten stepchild to its well-known relative dyslexia, dyscalculia affects the same number of people -- an estimated 5% to 7% of the population, suggests new research in the May 27 issue of Science.

Often first discovered by low scores on math achievement tests, both children and adults who suffer from dyscalculia have trouble grasping the size of a number and its relative value.

Unlike dyslexics, however, they don't reverse the order of numbers when reading them. "Typically, dyscalculics don't have problems with the order of symbols, but anything with numbers could cause anxiety or even panic," says Brian Butterworth, an emeritus professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London, and lead author of the Science review article.

While many people think they're bad at math or don't have a head for numbers, dyscalculics are slower and less accurate at estimating the number of sets of objects and selecting the larger of two numbers, explains Butterworth.

For example, if dyscalculics were shown two playing cards a 5 and an 8, and asked to say which card was larger, they would count all the symbols on each card. If asked to count down from 10, they would count up from 1 to 10, then 1 to 9, then 1 to 8, etc.

They might use their fingers to count and do simple addition, far beyond the age when it's normally done. And they are challenged by making change and handling money, and estimating the height of a room (they may say 200 feet). They also have trouble with concepts of time, like approximating how long a car trip will take.

Dyscalculia appears to be inherited, and scientists have begun to identify abnormalities in the brain that make learning math such a grind.

Even so, it's important for those affected to realize that "having a serious problem learning arithmetic does not mean you are stupid," says Butterworth.

In fact, the disability can affect people with normal intelligence and normal working memory, or be seen in those with other developmental difficulties, such as dyslexia and ADHD. Some adults with severe dyscalculia can even be very good at geometry and using statistical packages, and capable of doing college-level computer programming. So it doesn't affect all mathematical abilities or skills.

But it can be a lifelong liability if it's misdiagnosed, unrecognized by teachers or not properly treated.

The paper calls for greater attention and funding for the problem, and specialized teaching that strengthens the processing of numbers using concrete materials, such as beads and counters, supported by game-like software for learners.

The important thing is to not go on to more advanced concepts until the basics have been mastered, says Butterworth.

Unfortunately, there is zero chance (for you republicans, that is the round number) of the University College London being persuaded to take this on and deliver results before the REPUBLICAN controlled Minnesota Legislature's intransigence and bad math and worse economic theory sends our state government into shut down.

For those of you who are not clear, this was written somewhat tongue in cheek, as humor (and to indulge my geeky interest in neuroscience). But I am serious in wondering why it is that the Right has been so intellectually dishonest in their ideology-driven rather than factually objective approach to our economy.

When they can be bothered to address it at all, that is, instead of their backwards into the past approach to culture wars. 

I would underline that had the REPUBLICANS dealt with the budget at the beginning of the legislative session, not the end, we would have had ample time to resolve this budget crisis without resorting to a possible shut down or special session.  Had REPUBLICANS been willing to compromise, to examine their ideology objectively - like finding ANY objective factual justification whatsoever for their premise that the tax cuts to the rich or to corporations results in job creation, or objective factual justification for their claims that we should not equally address tax revenue issues, including subsidies and tax expenditures as part of budget balancing and economic / job growth.

The Republicans (and you Tea Partiers as well) showed your utterly flawed priorities in the past legislative session, and your equally flawed values and regard for Minnesota citizens in your choices.

I don't think there is any neuroscience that can explain or excuse that.