Posted on 07/24/2015 4:35:14 AM PDT by Sir Napsalot
This argument between Ted Cruz and Code Pink’s Medea Benjamin over the Iran deal is an interesting contrast in logical styles. Cruz reasons the deal is bad because it gives Tehran $100 billion that it will use to continue its war against America. By contrast, Benjamin says that since Obama and all the right thinking people think the deal is good then it must be. How can you, Ted Cruz, think differently from all these super-smart people?
The debate reflects the age-old conflict between an argument from reason and an argument from authority. It’s a real contest because while Western civilization pays lip service to “evidence based” policy, in practice most human beings rely on social proof to decide what to believe.
Social proof is a type of conformity. When a person is in a situation where they are unsure of the correct way to behave, they will often look to others for cues concerning the correct behavior. … and is driven by the assumption that surrounding people possess more knowledge about the situation.
The search for “social proof” as a determinant of conviction is not wholly crazy. Few of us can say why a pharmaceutical works. But if the doctor prescribes a pill, we drink it without question. Most of the world is preoccupied with making a living and consequently have a high level of rational ignorance. “Rational ignorance occurs when the cost of educating oneself on an issue exceeds the potential benefit that the knowledge would provide.” It takes too long for us to figure things out from first principles, so we find a “smart man” and do what he tells us.
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
From the 60's revolution (they called it counter-revolution) of questioning every and all authorities, now that these progressives were in charge, they instill their charge the unquestioning authorities belief.
I've been waiting for the rebellious young to counter their toxic revolutions for a long time, as yet it does not seem there's any evidence of it.
I believe we have found the problem...
Think about whether the population as a whole is suffering from news management a la "1984".
Liberals and Muslims share a common strategy, fascist tyranny, authority over everything by an unassailable leader. Obama is the liberal’s Khomeini.
Good article and good post. The article captures the usual stance of the libs and their Facebook memes on all thing Obama. All memes, all the time — can’t be bothered with reason or logic. Perfectly explains the 2012 election.
Correct.
Liberalism IS a fascist tyranny.
Don’t believe it? Apart from geography, individuals in power, culture, economy, type of governance... the ONE thing common to all fascism is ‘terror’.
That puts Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Franco, Papa Doc Duvalier, Castro etc. in the same category.
I think this captured it. “Most of the world is preoccupied with making a living ....” and their own entertainment. Most of the world thought to give them an inch, and that will settle them down. So inch by inch, we’ve come to today’s upside down world.
Only the die-hards and impressionable young are motivated enough to make a ruckus (for whatever CAUSE). And thank goodness we don’t have even more activists.
But now, they’ve pushed too far and too hard. “Rational reasoning” can only get you so far with irrational people. Every one of us has to decide their own ‘red line’, and enough is enough.
since Obama and all the right thinking people think the deal is good
Yep, that’s it. When massive “nonconformity” becomes conformity you have a culture that is ripe for manipulation with their social networking herding instincts.
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