I don\u2019t know about you but, at this point in time, I\u2019m getting tired of hearing about the Presidential election being \u201cstolen.\u201d A lot of things are believed because they are obviously, or demonstrably true. But some things are believed because they are consistent with some broadly held vision of a number of people \u2014 and this vision is accepted as a substitute for the facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once said, \u201cNever underestimate the difficulty of changing false beliefs by facts.\u201d I\u2019m not sure who said it, but he or she was right on the money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The problem is that false beliefs are not always just crazy ideas \u2014 they are often both plausible and logical \u2014 but there\u2019s always something missing. Their plausibility often gains them political support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I read a book on economics recently that discussed fallacies and the author indicated that sometimes what is missing in a fallacy is simply a definition. I think he\u2019s right. Particular words appear to have special powers, especially in politics, like fair, equality, social justice, etc. The fact that terms like these are undefined is a huge political advantage. These \u201cundefined\u201d terms can mean wholly different things to different groups or individuals but for some reason they come together in support of movements that use such appealing words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A lot of fallacies have been around forever \u2014 there are many reasons why they have such staying power, even in the face of hard evidence against them. Elected officials can\u2019t readily admit that they were wrong, or some policy or movement they supported turned out badly without \u2014 in their minds \u2014 risking their whole career. No one likes to admit being wrong. But sometimes the cost of not admitting to being wrong are too high to ignore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many beliefs that collapse under scrutiny may continue to exist indefinitely when they are not examined, and especially when skilled advocates are able to perpetuate those beliefs by forestalling scrutiny through appeals to emotions and\/or interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the fallacies we read about today in the newspapers and on the Internet are old \u2014 maybe centuries old \u2014 and were refuted long ago, but many have been repackaged in up-to-date rhetoric to suit current times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So people are going to continue to believe what they believe, based on appealing terms, politics, old wives tales, whatever\u2026 not the facts. I predict we\u2019re going to continue to hear about the \u201cstolen election\u201d for many, many years even though facts prove statistically there is enough voter fraud to sway exactly zero elections.
\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I don\u2019t know about you but, at this point in time, I\u2019m getting tired of hearing about the Presidential election being \u201cstolen.\u201d A lot of things are believed because they are obviously, or demonstrably true. But some things are believed … Continue reading