Skip to content
Andrew Tobias
Andrew Tobias

Money and Other Subjects

  • Home
  • Books
  • Videos
  • Bio
  • Archives
  • Links
  • Me-Mail
Andrew Tobias
Andrew Tobias

Money and Other Subjects

Cognitive Dissonance

February 27, 2025February 26, 2025

Mark Aaron James:


This is what sucks about cognitive dissonance. Once you’ve committed, and defended a position, it is VERY difficult to rectify such a mistake with one’s sense of self. Humans are incredibly reluctant to see themselves as less informed, making bad decisions, unknowingly supporting evil, and being fooled. They will, honestly, die defending a choice, rather than admit they were flawed. It is one of our greatest weaknesses as a species. There is a gentle process, where you can lead people to figure it out themselves, but just telling them, even showing them evidence, often causes them to double down. I wish this weren’t true, but there are tons of studies about it. Ignorant people are fragile, and that sucks for anyone hoping to make change.


→ That’s the problem all right.

Yet . . .

. . . when the 79 million Americans on Medicaid see how hard Trump is trying to cut their benefits . . . while cutting taxes for millionaires and billionaires . . . and ballooning the deficit . . .

. . . when farmers lose the sales they used to make to USAID to feed starving children (and win the world’s admiration and goodwill) . . .

. . . when shoppers see the price of eggs double what got them to vote for Trump . . .

. . . and hard-working public servants who voted for him are treated with contempt and laid off . . .

. . . and government services get worse and air safety becomes a concern and measles spreads and 401k’s fall . . .

. . . and they wonder how it makes America great to pardon cop beaters . . .

. . . and to vote with Russia and North Korea against Ukraine and our allies . . .

. . . I think more than a few of the good people who trusted Trump with their vote will feel betrayed.

Whether this will happen in time to save the country — and whether free and fair elections will be allowed in 2026 — I don’t know.  They have elections in Russia and North Korea, too.

Join Indivisible!

Take 20 minutes a day to spread DIS-disinformation!



BONUS

Will it be okay for Trump to murder people as Russia’s Putin and North Korea’s Kim do?

Adam Schiff puts the question to a Trump nominee.

 

Post navigation

← Two Alarms: Your Investments and Your Country
For God’s Sake, Carl: WATCH THIS →

Quote of the Day

"Why shouldn't the American people take half my money from me? I took all of it from them."

Edward A. Filene, Department Store Magnate, 1860-1937

Subscribe

 Advice

The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need

"So full of tips and angles that only a booby or a billionaire could not benefit." -- The New York Times

Help

MYM Emergency?

Too Much Junk?

Tax Questions?

Ask Less

Recent Posts

  • Three Easy Don'ts + Six Sobering Minutes

    June 7, 2025
  • Three Good Ones

    June 4, 2025
  • "A Disgusting Abomination" Indeed

    June 4, 2025
  • Move To Canada? Help Design My Sign? Save The IRS?

    June 2, 2025
  • 90 Must-See Seconds

    June 1, 2025
  • "Those Who Cannot Remember The Past . . ."

    May 31, 2025
  • Heartwarming / Thought-Provoking / Silver Lining -- And Despair

    May 30, 2025
  • Destroy The FBI; Protect The High-Jump!

    May 28, 2025
  • George Orwell, Joe, And Carl

    May 28, 2025
  • Harvard - UPDATED

    May 27, 2025
Andrew Tobias Books
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
©2025 Andrew Tobias - All Rights Reserved | Website: Whirled Pixels | Author Photo: Tony Adams