Political extremism can be moderated by asking people a simple question

[applegrove]

Political extremism can be moderated by asking people a simple question

By Susan Perry at the Minnesota Post

http://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2013/06/political-extremism-can-be-moderated-asking-people-simple-question

"SNIP......................


Could we diffuse some of the intense political polarization in our country — on matters, say, like health care or global warming or voter registration — by asking individuals who hold extreme views to describe exactly how their proposed policy solutions would work in the real world?

Yes, according to a study published recently in the journal Psychological Science. In a series of experiments, a team of researchers led by psychologist Philip Fernbach of the University of Colorado found that 1) people generally know less about public policies than they think they do, and 2) once they realize their lack of knowledge, they tend to moderate their views.

No surprise with that first finding. I suspect, however, that many people will find the second finding at least somewhat unexpected — but also, perhaps, hopeful.

“Many of the most important issues facing society — from climate change to health care to poverty — require complex policy solutions about which citizens hold polarized political preferences,” write Fernbach and his colleagues in the introduction to their study. “A central puzzle of modern American politics is how so many voters can maintain strong political views concerning complex policies yet remain relative uninformed about how such policies would bring about desired outcomes.”



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[applegrove]

1. "health care or global warming or voter registration"? All examples of wing nuts being

uninformed or indoctrinated.

[Zoeisright]

2. Abortion is a big one.

Try to get fucking repukes to delineate exactly what they would do to make abortion illegal. They get VERY uncomfortable. Because it's so easy to scream about abortion. But making it illegal gets into some extremely private business. Sure, there are some assholes who are so misogynistic they would have no trouble forcing women to have pregnancy tests every month and make women who had miscarriages report to the police. But many wouldn't. It's an interesting exercise.

[hollysmom]

3. I always ask them to paraphrasee, or put in their own words

It is much easier to be extreme using the hot button words. but most will be reasonable if they start using their own words, it like forces them to think. Like, what is smaller government, No roads, no police?

[iemitsu]

4. Interesting study.

I like the idea of forcing people to confront their own ignorance. It is a humbling experience.
Whereas, asking someone to identify institutions and people, who have had influence on their thinking, reinforces the notion that those sources have authority or, at least, doesn't expose the ignorance of the institutions and people.
We should remember to ask people to explain their reasoning rather than ask them to recognize poor reasoning in others.

[Warpy]

5. That might have worked at one time, but the hardcore

bible bangin far right crowd just starts to ditto out of context as they furiously try to reboot. Then they call you a lot of nasty names and stomp off, still dittoing like it's a comforting prayer.

I remember asking them to describe their superior family values to me, since I was a Democrat and obviously had none. Same reaction.

I'm concerned about some of them. Years ago, they could form sentences. Now it's slogans, buzzwords, and lists of names, none of it making any coherent sense at all. They are obviously speaking in a sort of shorthand since they seem to know what other right wingers are saying and it's mutual.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

6. OK. Let's try it out. How would YOU catch the Osama Bin Ladens of this world?

At the moment, the answer from the President seems to be:

1] No abusive interrogations, as happened under Bush.
2] The ability to record who phoned who, so long as at least one person is more likely than not to be a foreigner, when so authorized by a court set up to specifically review these kinds of cases.

So. If you're someone who, like gun nuts, thinks President Obama is destroying the 2nd or 4th amendment with this (despite the courts saying otherwise), please answer the question.

What would you do?

I'm genuinely curious.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community