[Bill,
March 3, 2008]
Those evil other guys!
One problem with feeling very strongly about something is you get into all sorts of logical conundrums when you try to defend your point of view. That is, most people don't say, "I'm on our side because it's our side, and f*** those bastards over there. I don't need to give you reasons."
But it's in the reasoning that comes the trouble. Among the temptations:
1. When your party is in power and doing things you like, changing the rules to concentrate more power is, "Tough-minded approach to get things done." When you're party is out of power, changing the rules is a horrible abuse of power.
2. When your party is in power, you don't understand why your opponents are freaking out. When your party is out of power, your emotions are justified by the extreme abuse of power of the other guys.
3. When your party is elected, it's because of the wisdom of the American people. When your party loses, it's because the stupidity of the American people and they get what they deserve.
4. When your party gets the money, it's good. When the other party gets the money, we need campaign finance reform.
5. When your party is in power and makes a mistake, it's just a goof and can be remedied. When the other party screws up, it's an excuse to say, "See?"
6. When your party is in power, God is running things and all is right with the world. When out of power, we live in a fallen world and Satan is running things.
7. Both sides are fascist depending on who's ox is getting gored.
8. When you have a few facts and can't convince someone, it's because they're stupid. When they have a few facts that will lead you to a conclusion you don't want to make, you need more information.
9. If a study confirms your worldview, it's true. If not, there's a problem with the methodology.
10. Your opponents disagree with you because they are in denial. They have made decisions based on erroneous information, then they've committed emotionally to it, and then surrounded themselves with friends who confirm it. You on the other hand are correct.
11. When your side is enthusiastic and cheering, it's a healthy display of authentic emotion. When the other side does it, it's weird, cultish, quasi-fascist ... and Hitler's coming! Boo!
12. When something unexpected happens: If your party is in power, it's just something unpredictable we need to adapt to. If the other party is in power, it was a foreseeable consequence of the other party's ineptitude.
But it's in the reasoning that comes the trouble. Among the temptations:
1. When your party is in power and doing things you like, changing the rules to concentrate more power is, "Tough-minded approach to get things done." When you're party is out of power, changing the rules is a horrible abuse of power.
2. When your party is in power, you don't understand why your opponents are freaking out. When your party is out of power, your emotions are justified by the extreme abuse of power of the other guys.
3. When your party is elected, it's because of the wisdom of the American people. When your party loses, it's because the stupidity of the American people and they get what they deserve.
4. When your party gets the money, it's good. When the other party gets the money, we need campaign finance reform.
5. When your party is in power and makes a mistake, it's just a goof and can be remedied. When the other party screws up, it's an excuse to say, "See?"
6. When your party is in power, God is running things and all is right with the world. When out of power, we live in a fallen world and Satan is running things.
7. Both sides are fascist depending on who's ox is getting gored.
8. When you have a few facts and can't convince someone, it's because they're stupid. When they have a few facts that will lead you to a conclusion you don't want to make, you need more information.
9. If a study confirms your worldview, it's true. If not, there's a problem with the methodology.
10. Your opponents disagree with you because they are in denial. They have made decisions based on erroneous information, then they've committed emotionally to it, and then surrounded themselves with friends who confirm it. You on the other hand are correct.
11. When your side is enthusiastic and cheering, it's a healthy display of authentic emotion. When the other side does it, it's weird, cultish, quasi-fascist ... and Hitler's coming! Boo!
12. When something unexpected happens: If your party is in power, it's just something unpredictable we need to adapt to. If the other party is in power, it was a foreseeable consequence of the other party's ineptitude.