--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Several decades ago, a detachment of the…" description: "\"Several decades ago, a detachment of the American right cut itself loose from reason, and it has been drifting along happily ever since. If the birther..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e2/elizabeth-kolbert-7570_boat_several-decades-ago-a-detachment-of-the_2777079.png" --- # Several decades ago, a detachment of the American right… ![“Several decades ago, a detachment of the American right cut itself loose from reason, and it has been drifting along happily ever since. If the birthers are more evidently kooky than the global-warming "skeptics" or the death-panellers or the supply-siders or the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth…” quote by Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e2/elizabeth-kolbert-7570_boat_several-decades-ago-a-detachment-of-the_2777079.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e2/elizabeth-kolbert-7570_boat_several-decades-ago-a-detachment-of-the_2777079.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e2/elizabeth-kolbert-7570_boat_several-decades-ago-a-detachment-of-the_2777079.png) > “Several decades ago, a detachment of the American right cut itself loose from reason, and it has been drifting along happily ever since. If the birthers are more evidently kooky than the global-warming "skeptics" or the death-panellers or the supply-siders or the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, they are, in their fundamental disregard for the facts, actually mainstream.” [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The American right has abandoned reason, drifting into mainstream absurdity. **In simple terms:** Right wing ignores facts, becoming mainstream absurd. Key Takeaway Promote fact‑based discourse and critical thinking. Themes politics reason media Mood analytical concerned Type journalistic critical When to use this quote - elections - public debates - social media - education Key Concepts cognitive bias information ecology Questions to Reflect On - How can reason be restored in public dialogue? - What role does media play in this drift? A Different Perspective Some may view facts as partisan, limiting impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Detachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detachment/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Global warming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/global-warming/) [Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Skeptic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeptic/) [Skeptics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeptics/) [Veteran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veteran/) ## Related quotes > [“Wandering aimlessly, I love the thrill of unknown paths. Am I a nomad? Am I a wanderer? May be I am a drifter. 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