What is it with anti-intellctualism?

I asked this exact question, quite innocently, to a former co-cheerleader-nee-sat beside her in high school choir - nee- went to Iowa with her - nee- excessively drank with her - nee - lost touch with her for 17 years - nee - reconnected on facebook with her - realize we are both forty and don't drink anymore (okok SHE doesn't drink at all -i binge drink twice a year - that's about the same right?) and both run when she said that her father was an anti-intellectual .....

She had a lot to say.

I don't know what the deal is with anti-intellectualism. Honestly, all I can think of is that people without an education assume people with an education are looking down on them. They don't like the idea that more educated people know better than they what should be done with their lives and money. They live in the "real" world god damnit. What do those snobby intellectuals know about the real world?

Couple that attitude with an entire political party sitting on their shoulders whispering in their collective ears, "They think you're stupid. They think you can't be trusted with your own money 'cuz you'll blow it. They think you need to be taken care of. We don't think that. Belch belch glug glug. We're just like you. The common man. We know you can take care of yourself. Fuck those liberals. They just want to give all your hard earned money to people who don't want to work. You know who I'm talkin' about."

They pray on their ignorance, insecurities and prejudices and the dumbasses fall for it every stinking time. To the religious fundamentalists they say, "they all want to kill your babies and take away the sanctity of marriage. The gays will have the same rights as you and the whole world will go to hell in a handbasket!!" After the election they bend over the working class and fundamentalists, ram it up their rear without a good reach around and start all over the next election cycle.

Wow. See? I come by it naturally.