Yes, People Support Ridiculous Things

A recent poll by Public Policy Polling (PPP) found that 30% of GOP'ers and 18% of Democrats support bombing Agrabah, the fictional city from Aladdin. Based on how many serious media outlets are picking this up and/or decrying the result (see this, this, and this, for example) it seems people are shocked. Frankly, I'm shocked so many people are shocked. Penn & Teller were able to get environmentalists to sign a petition banning di-hydrogen monoxide (i.e. H2O/water). The Man Show launched with a sketch of people signing a petition to end women's suffrage. Yale students apparently are signing a petition to repeal the First Amendment.

At one level, each of these are meant to be humorous. At another level, they are each a serious commentary on the disappointing state of intellectual engagement individuals have with political beliefs/activism.

Combining all of these together teaches us two important lessons:

1. Ignorance is independent of ideology. 
2. Political beliefs/activism are not always grounded in logic.

Holding those two lessons as fundamental tenets makes engaging politics easier.