Comments on: Cognitive Dissonance and Congestion Pricing

By: D42

D42 — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:50:27 +0000

Although, I could never be as eloquent as Mr. Vanderbuilt in expressing anythingto the public.

By: D42

D42 — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:31:30 +0000

No, the governments in the US do the same thing. Especially when I am trying to acquire new software.
They are also malicious. The other big convincer is “the family”. I am surrounded with panties fighting for the family. It’s a never-ending washing machine.

However, more seriously, it is a serious music problem.. much like why “alternative” music -originally- popped up as an opposition of “popular entertainment”–only to become absorbed by it.

The “problem” so to speak has even deeper roots–such as carpet muffles & Afghanistan.
Plus, some intelligent but not public remarks from not so popular philosophers:

He considered himself a representative and upholder of “Tradition” in an age of -spiritual oblivion- and -organized deviancy-.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:38:11 +0000

this sounds like Dan Gilbert of Harvard – the happiness professor. see his TED talk. people learn to accept the inevitable, even if that ‘inevitable’ was objectively ‘very bad.’ i think the ‘paradox of choice’ may play here, too.

as for policy – to push some policy, you should convince people it is inevitable. going to war. killing social security. whatever your agenda, convince people that is simply has to happen. false dichotomies are a key strategic maneuver. i also agree with commenter @Colin on his take – people who don’t believe in Policy X are ‘not serious.’

By: Colin

Colin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:40:12 +0000

I’ve noticed this phenomenon with the way governments in Australia force unpopular measures onto the population. They stress, over and over, that the change is inevitable, and imply that people had better get used to it.

It seems to break down people’s will to fight; after all, why fight something that’s inevitable? Anybody who dares argue that the change is not inevitable is either ignored or declared not to understand the issues.