Political Rhetoric

Political Rhetoric should be such that it does not persuade fools to vote.

Politics isn't for everyone. It has become glaringly obvious. Politicians shouldn't be allowed to "not tell the truth" as means of obtaining votes. People who are easily persuaded by disinformation, misinformation and lies dominated the polls during the 2016 general election. The result was an attempt to destroy democracy on January 6, 2021.

The plot was an abject failure because it didn't include any presence of intellect. Now the participants are being arrested and jailed by the dozen's per week as they are found and the planners are making plea deals with prosecutors against their dear leader, Donald J. Trump, and getting probation.

This didn't start in 2016. It started March 19, 1979 with the creation of C-SPAN. Up to that point, politics was in the shadows of post-secondary academia. Once the cable television subscribing public got a look at how their representatives performed in the House and Senate, some people thought "Hey! I can do that!" Ever since, people with a facile understanding of governance are running for political office.

Now the media has turned politics into a discordant circus and the dedicated, intelligent, service oriented people are being pushed out of public service by self-serving, narcissistic megalomaniacs and the cultish fools who kowtow to their every whim. America was the proverbial frog in the pot of slowly boiling water over a period of nearly 40 years.

Then among a myriad of mistakes, gaffes and other foolishness, Roe v Wade was overturned. Suddenly democracy is worthy of attention by people who previously didn't have time to think about it. Democracy still stands on a precipice with a conservative leaning Supreme Court where democracy can still die in a breath. What happens during the 2024 general election will make or break the United States of America.

Hang on, folks.

The Biased Make Bad Decisions

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 There are many different types of biases that can lead people to make bad decisions. Some of the most common include:

* **Confirmation bias:** This is the tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms our existing beliefs. This can lead us to ignore or discount information that contradicts our beliefs, even if it is accurate.

* **Availability bias:** This is the tendency to rely on information that is most readily available to us, even if it is not representative of the overall situation. For example, we may be more likely to invest in a stock that we have heard about in the news, even if it is not a good investment.

* **Anchoring bias:** This is the tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information that we receive when making a decision. For example, if we are negotiating a salary, we may be more likely to accept an offer that is close to our initial asking price, even if we could negotiate a higher salary.

* **Overconfidence bias:** This is the tendency to overestimate our own abilities and knowledge. This can lead us to make decisions without gathering all of the necessary information or considering all of the possible risks.

* **Groupthink:** This is the tendency to conform to the opinions of the group, even if we disagree with them privately. This can lead to bad decisions, especially if the group is not considering all of the available information or if the group is under pressure to make a quick decision.

Other biases that can lead to bad decisions include:

* **Affect heuristic:** This is the tendency to rely on our emotions when making decisions, rather than on logic and evidence.

* **Representativeness heuristic:** This is the tendency to judge the likelihood of an event based on how similar it is to other events that we have experienced.

* **Sunk cost fallacy:** This is the tendency to continue investing in a project, even when it is clear that the project is failing.

* **Framing effect:** This is the tendency to be influenced by the way that information is presented to us.

It is important to be aware of these biases so that we can avoid making bad decisions. We can do this by:

* **Gathering as much information as possible before making a decision.**

* **Considering all of the possible risks and benefits of each option.**

* **Seeking out and listening to different perspectives.**

* **Being open to changing our minds.**

* **Asking for help from others if needed.**

By being aware of our biases and taking steps to avoid them, we can make better decisions in all areas of our lives.

Who are the Influenced?

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People who are more prone to be influenced by others tend to have the following characteristics:

* **Low self-esteem:** People with low self-esteem may be more likely to seek approval from others and to conform to their expectations.

* **High need for belonging:** People with a high need for belonging may be more likely to go along with the group in order to be accepted.

* **Conformity bias:** People have a natural tendency to conform to the opinions and behaviors of others, even when they know that the group is wrong. This is known as the conformity bias.

* **Persuasibility:** Some people are simply more persuadable than others. They may be more likely to be swayed by the arguments and opinions of others.

* **Lack of life experience:** People who lack life experience may be more likely to be influenced by others because they have not yet developed their own strong beliefs and values.

In addition to these individual characteristics, there are a number of situational factors that can make people more susceptible to influence. For example, people are more likely to be influenced by others when they are:

* Tired or stressed

* In unfamiliar or uncertain situations

* Around people who they admire or respect

* Under pressure to make a quick decision

* In a group setting

It is important to note that everyone is susceptible to influence to some degree. It is a normal part of human behavior. However, people who have the characteristics listed above may be more likely to be influenced by others, especially in certain situations.

Here are some tips for resisting negative influence:

* **Be aware of your own vulnerabilities:** Be aware of the characteristics and situations that make you more susceptible to influence.

* **Develop your own strong beliefs and values:** Think critically about your beliefs and values, and make sure that they are aligned with your own personal values.

* **Be assertive:** Be able to say no to people and to express your own opinions and beliefs, even if they are different from the opinions of others.

* **Surround yourself with positive people:** Spend time with people who support you and who make you feel good about yourself.

If you are struggling to resist negative influence, talk to a trusted friend, family member, or therapist. They can offer support and guidance.