Summary: Today we look at a characteristic of the people of New America, one that pushes us away from the America-that-once-was: our increasingly tribal view of the world, each with its own lies and contempt for those who disagree (especially experts). It keeps us easy to rule, and makes impossible to find our own common destiny.
Divide et impera.
– Divide and rule, a maxim that served Rome as well as it serves the 1% today
Content
- Making ourselves dumber
- Causes?
- Why do we do this?
- Reforming America
- For More Information
(1) Making ourselves dumber
This comment from a well-informed reader to Are we following Japan into an era of slow growth, even stagnation?:
“Economic decline {since the crash} is obvious to any sane observer.”
Almost every US economic metric has improved since the recession ended in 2009 — four years ago. What level of propaganda can induce this level of false knowledge? Yet this fierce belief in false knowledge — about easily found information — has become ubiquitous on the Right.
And on the Left, mostly focused on climate change since they abandoned the IPCC. Every large weather event brings forth claims that this results from anthropogenic global warming. And often, claims that this is “worst ever” or “unprecedented”, and that such events are increasing in frequency and severity. Usually without historical support, or even contradicted by the IPCC (e.g., their report on Extreme Weather).
Further supporting our tribalism is our reaction to contrary evidence: rejection. The readership of the FM website is ideologically diverse, and so we see this allergy worked out in the comments section as people squeal with rage when their biases are pealed off like scabs and exposed to daylight. On Twitter people can flee, as unfollows surge following tweets of facts that disturb the sleep of ideologues on the Left or Right.
No wonder we have become polarized as a nation, when we cannot agree on simple facts. How can we find a common future, when we cannot begin discussions about values and trade-offs because each side considers the other — correctly — deluded about simple things.
(2) Causes?
Before we discuss why this happens, what causes it? Why this susceptibility to propaganda?
One obvious cause: the growing popularity of websites which are engines of disinformation. They provided highly slanted streams of over-simplified information and exaggerated conclusions, mockery of those (especially experts) who have different viewpoints — often plus outright lies. These induce and boost tribalism, closing their audience off from other viewpoints, other knowledge, awareness of uncertainties, and the ability to form balanced viewpoints.
Doing this to people has many benefits. Recruiting people to the cause (it doesn’t matter what cause), preventing people finding common ground against the 1%, and making money (they are baskets of linkbait for advertisers). Zero Hedge is a classic example (I think the reader quoted above is a ZH reader). Fox News is the ur-example (the Right is more successfully commercial at this).
These websites are, I fear, increasingly become among the dominant nodes providing information to Americans. No matter how intelligent and well-educated, relying on these websites makes us dumber.
(3) Why do we do this?
My wild guess: we suffer from a lack of seriousness, so that our opinions on important issues becomes matters of tribal identity and entertainment. In fact the tribal beliefs — including the exaggerations and lies — function as group markers. Much as did the dietary laws of the ancient Israelites.
In our nation of increasingly atomized individuals — without the clan, community, and corporate loyalties that for so long defined Americans — these provide new allegiances for the New America. Best of all, they’re free of any cost. Strongly held identities, dedicated to saving the nation or even the world, with no obligations for personal action.
These are unlike the allegiances that built America. Abolitionists, suffragettes, unionists, civil rights activists — all of these were tied to reality, which limited their fantasy football-like disregard for reality.
(4) Reforming America
There’s none so blind as they that won’t see.
— Jonathan Swift, Polite Conversation (c. 1738), Dialogue III
If we wish to save America, perhaps the first step is to dedicate ourselves to seeing clearly, forsaking ideological blinders, skepticism to information new and old, and evaluating experts by their record — not how pleasant their stories. In short, perhaps we should pay as much attention to how we feed our minds as to what we put in our stomachs.
America is awash in foodies, and people obsessed with glutton, carbs, and things I prefer not to think about. If only we gave such attention to our sources of news and guidance.
One easy first step: read sources that you disagree with. If you think the New York Times is hopelessly liberal, or the IPCC’s forecasts too-conservative, try reading them. Dedicate yourself to finding the truth.
It’s not an easy path. Life is more difficult outside the cacoon. Perhaps eventually enough Americans will emerge to form the basis for a movement to save the Second Republic, or begin to build a Third.
(5) For More Information
If you liked this post, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. See the links at the pages About the quiet coup in America and Reforming America: steps to new politics. Also see the other posts in this series…
- Learning skepticism, an essential skill for citizenship in 21st century America.
- We cannot agree on simple facts and so cannot reform America.
- Our minds are addled, the result of skillful and expensive propaganda.
- Remembering is the first step to learning. Living in the now is ignorance.
- Politics in modern America: A users’ guide for journalists and reformers.