Cure Cognitive Dissonance For Life!- The Sunday Collage

I am only able to write and speak freely on this blog because people gave up their lives so that we could have a taste of freedom.

So this Memorial Day, I would like to say thank you to the men who died so that I can live the American dream. I can write what I want in this place. I can choose the career that I want and live the kind of life that is simply not possible- in so many other places. I can love my country and hate my government. That's legal and patriotic. But most importantly, I can recognize the truth. I don't have to make the truth conform to my beliefs any longer- I make my beliefs conform to the truth.

Please note that I said "any longer." This would be an excellent spot to offer up a definition of the term "cognitive dissonance."

Cognitive dissonance occurs when individuals are confronted by facts which are in conflict with their existing belief systems. This causes people to become quite uncomfortable. They have a choice to make when confronted with an inconvenient fact. (a) They can rationalize away the fact using any number of rationales and escape methods or (b) they can accept the fact as truth and readjust their beliefs.

Cognitive dissonance gets worse for people when a whole body of inconvenient truths and facts are presented or when the truth gets so overwhelming that they can no longer deny the possibility that they might have been wrong all along.

It has been my experience that people choose (a) almost exclusively. People will alter the truth to conform to their beliefs. People rarely let the truth alter their beliefs. This is the heart and soul of cognitive dissonance.

Let me offer up a wonderful example of this. As briefly as 7 years ago, I once believed that we lived in a democracy. In fact, I cannot remember any instructor anywhere including high school or college, that steadfastly maintained that the U.S. was founded as a republic and not as a democracy. This failure to distinguish the difference between a democracy and a republic includes a vast amount of otherwise educated human beings. I actually find it quite hard to fathom that so many people know so little about our republic. Yet, I numbered among the offenders not so long ago.

The difference between a republic and a democracy is enormous. A republic practices a rule of law where the minority are protected from the whims and oppression of the majority. In a democracy- it's mob rule. We practice some democratic principles for sure- but the founders were well aware of the oppression of the majority. Without law, democracy is simply mob rule. The rule of law is not important when the mob can make some rational case for ignoring it. The mob won out in 1942, when Japanese Americans were denied the rule of law and placed in relocation camps. Had someone, anyone, had the courage to mention that Japanese Americans enjoy the same rights as the rest of us and that we live in a republic, perhaps the mob could have been held at bay. But it wasn't. (I have had a healthy argument or two with people who still adamantly defend that decision)

So people chose (a) back then. The mob's best thinking thought Japanese Americans might be loyal to Japan. That fear, which amounts to nothing but an errant opinion or belief, strikes at the very heart and soul of cognitive dissonance. So you see, with no evidence, proof, or facts to back up their case- the mob won. They were not about to let the facts change their errant belief systems. They changed the facts- rationalized them- to suit their beliefs and they damaged a whole lot of people in the process.

I cannot tell you- how many times- I have gotten into online rants or read the comments of people who think we live in a democracy. If you asked 100 people in this country what kind of government we have- I am not kidding you when I say that I believe at least 95% would say we live in a democracy.

How profound and widespread is cognitive dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance applies to virtually everything in your life- not just politics- but every opinion and belief that you hold. Whether that's God, abortion rights, health care, or politics. We all hold beliefs and opinions. But that's all they are. That is all they ever were. A bunch of opinions that we march around like they are matters of fact and in the worst case- we adamantly defend our positions, diminish others, and sometimes kill other people who disagree. All of this ego insanity came to a head for me in 2007. And like some tsunami of awareness, it buried me. The waters have been receding ever since and revealing just how asinine all of that is.

There is evidence suggesting that the more theanterior cingulate cortex signals conflict, the more dissonance a person experiences and the more their attitudes may change.

The first step in arresting the harmful effects of cognitive dissonance is realizing that you have it.

There are millions upon millions of people who adamantly believe fraudulent opinions and who will refuse to bend- even when confronted with overwhelming evidence to the contrary. This is a dominant feature of politics. This is also a dominant feature of the human condition. Some of the most intelligent people I know- cannot grasp the simple truth that they might be wrong. The tsunami has not come for them. Perhaps it never will.

I don't try to make the best evidence bend to my beliefs anymore- I change my beliefs to accommodate the best evidence.

Does the sun always rise in the east? Not exactly- but I'm not sure it matters. It sure as hell ain't worth arguing about.

Congress Shocked! Corporations Using Tax Laws Created By Congress To Avoid Taxes

I have always been in awe that the oligarchy and Congress conspire to achieve tremendous tax advantages for corporate America.

Then Congress' acts shocked when people begin to say, "Hey! Corporations like GE aren't paying any income taxes at all."

Like it was some oversight or mystery. Well, except that Congress is responsible for all tax laws. The latest dog and pony show can be found here. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-05-20/apple-meets-fairness-doctrine-set-pay-whole-lot-more-tax

Btw, this is why we will never have tax reform. Because our owners don't want tax reform.

The Smart Asses Always Lose- The Sunday Collage

Today, I would like to start with a comment from another blog. The writer captures the problem we all share.

I don't even think the general population cares. When I try to discuss these issues with anyone Im labeled too negative or worse. As long as sports or Dancing with the stars is on T.V. and hot pizza is delivered on time, Americans could not care less. I know that thru your efforts you try to enlighten people, unfortunately most Americans do not want to be enlightened. on Obama Officially Becomes Worst President Ever

So, I'd like to blow off a little steam. I don't know who I detest more... flaming liberals or right wing conservatives. They are both nuts. Who does that leave? It leaves independents, which as it turns out, really decide every election. I like small party candidates because at least they have a platform beyond abortion. The obvious problem is that all of those small fractured parties are useless. Non contenders. The stranglehold that the Republicans and Democrats have on our country is precisely why we continue to be mired in the mess that we are in.

So many things need to be changed and this country can't even agree on one of them. Think about that. We have had 50 years of failed leadership. We have a Congress who only care about getting re-elected and lining their own coffers. We can't get tax reform, we can't get campaign reform, we can't get lobbying reform, we can't even get Congress to stop insider trading. A week or two ago, those bastards secretly slid a bill through both houses that essentially takes all of the teeth out of an earlier bill they passed to prevent insider trading. We have scandal after scandal, a privately run Federal Reserve Bank that controls world banking and really does manipulate every market from libor to precious metals. As a nation we are completely bankrupt. We are no better off than Japan. We simply compartmentalize our various liabilities and refuse to properly account for them.

When are we going to change any of this? The obvious stuff. The stuff we can agree on- like tax reform?

Answer- never.

Your government- of the people, by the people, for the people, is complete nonsense. I don't know when that government quit existing or if it ever did exist- but I can honestly say that this type of government has not existed in my lifetime. It is a fantasy.

The "people" control nothing. If you want to believe that bullshit go ahead. But the proof is incontrovertible, undisputed. The government is in control. It sure as hell ain't us. To believe otherwise is to believe in fairy tales and the easter bunny.

Millions of people know this intuitively and if they don't actually say it- they certainly practice it through their indifference. My ex wife has never voted. Not in 55 years. I am beginning to think that she is a genius plus++ she has never been called for jury duty. Things to like about not voting.

As it stands we have become a fractured country. Our people are fighting amongst themselves, adamantly believing that their cause is right and that your cause is not. And it is getting worse. There is no single rallying point- nothing we can all agree on. Just echo chambers here and there- with like minded individuals joining in. Apparently this idea of unifying our countrymen is mission impossible and I gotta tell you- trying to get people to rally creates collateral damage. The oddly offended people, people who take everything personally and launch their personal attacks, are everywhere. And if they hate the messenger I will promise you this- they will already pre-judge everything you have to say.

They will launch their attacks and so...

...the cynics think they are winning. But I will let you in on a little secret. Smart asses never win anything. In fact, smart assery is simply a way of saying- "I have lost and I have nothing useful to bring forth, but at the very least, I am going to take a personal shot at you on the way out." Any potential resolution fades away when people start personally attacking each other and that unfortunately- is the extent of our national dialogue. It is also why I often wish I had never started writing. I had no idea that having a fact based opinion (or at least an opinion based on the failure of the past 50 years) would offend others so badly.

I accept all of that and thus I am busy trying to re-invent myself and this blog without becoming a full blown cynic myself. I'd much rather entertain people and write something humorous rather than end up becoming one of the millions of anonymous cynics who inhabit the web. I've traveled that road before and I have to admit the current scenery is starting to look familiar. I've been on the losing side, one day I'd like to be on the winning side- and that's not the side filled with smart asses and cynics.

The Great Idaho Monkey Killer

I think one of the more bizarre stories I have followed this past year was that of the great Idaho monkey killer.

At some point in an evening filled with serious drinking and a complete loss of judgement, two men concocted a plan. I have a good idea one surely spouted off, "let's break into the zoo and steal a monkey." It is unclear at what moment the men thought this was a good idea- however history indicates that they indeed acted on the plan. They broke into the zoo and then into a cage housing the monkeys. Remember, two men thought this was a good idea. Oddly, the other man seems to have escaped unscathed. That's how deals go.

One of the men wrapped his coat around a monkey, and then tried to pitch the monkey over a fence to his drunken friend. All hell broke loose. The monkey did not go quietly into the good night.

At some point during the would be kidnapping, the monkey must have pissed off his would be captors to such an extent- that the kidnappers thought it was necessary to beat the monkey to death.

It matters not where you are in your life or what worldly horrors you may be enduring. Know this. You  are probably going to wake up tomorrow, knowing full well that you did not break into a zoo the previous night and kill a harmless monkey- nor will you be arrested, plastered all over the news, and be sentenced to seven years in prison for the incident.

I really can't imagine the shame or guilt this guy must be feeling or how bad it is about to get. Can you imagine his arrival at prison? Ugh. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/idaho-man-prison-killing-zoo-monkey-19194782#.UZXPIBz5knY

Was The Benghazi Consulate Just a Front For a CIA Operation?

Probably.

In the days following the Benghazi fiasco, I stumbled onto a story similar to the one that I am going to link here.

It makes sense that the CIA would be setting up camp in Libya and using a consulate as our "cover story." Telling the truth might go a long way in clearing up all of the confusion that we've had about who was in charge of what. Was Hillary (the state department) in charge or was the CIA?

Maybe that's why nothing happened.

I only have one question. If this story is true, why would a 7 member CIA strike force evacuate without Stevens and his aide? (and just how was it that a couple of ex-Navy Seals just happened by?)

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-10-10/opinions/35501217_1_benghazi-darrell-issa-security-lapses

When Thirty Seven Million Died...

I had no idea that 37 million casualties took place 99 years ago this July. We managed to kill over 60 million in WW2. Nearly 100 million people died in two wars.

WW1 must have been one savage conflict. How much have we learned since then? My gut tells me, damn little.

Excellent song. Sometimes this is where my reading takes me. Thanks, Jules.

Obama Officially Becomes Worst President Ever

So President Five Iron, our Imperial Leader, has had a week filled with testimony regarding complete indifference in letting diplomats get killed, using the IRS to punish his enemies, and eavesdropping and taking media records in an effort to find out who was leaking information.

He of course, knew nothing about any of it.

The comparisons to Nixon are startling.

Snipped this from a yahoo message board...

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If it walks like a fascist, talks like a fascist, seizes records like a fascist, lies to the public like a fascist, audits like a fascist, threatens enemies like a fascist....

So after that, I stumbled onto this gem which is actually written by a LIBERAL writer. It's hard to believe we could have anyone worse than Nixon and Carter. But then again, the Clintons' do refer to  Obama as the "amateur." Being called names by two of the the most psychopathic liars ever- is an accomplishment all in itself.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/03/25/nixon-has-won-watergate/2019443/