I Don't Get It.

I've been wondering lately why people believe the things they do.  Why can they be so stubborn?  For example, our governor, a U.S. senator and others keep telling us how bad crime is in our state, how most of the illegal immigrants are working for the Mexican drug cartels and that they commit most of the crime in our county. And that our border is dangerous and out of control.  But the Border Patrol, The FBI and other law enforcement officials say the facts don't support those statements.  And they say it's not even close.

The people making those claims are smart people.  They have access to the same facts as we do.  So why do they keep it up?  There are several possible explanations.  One, it is an election year and making voters afraid can get votes.  But when someone keeps repeating things that have been shown to be false, don't we call that lying?  And what does it say about the integrity of the person running for office or who support someone who is?

A second reason why people refuse to change their beliefs is simply human nature.  We tend to do things (and think things) because we have always done them that way.  We all have our comfort zones both physically and mentally.  Beliefs are not always rational but are emotional and come from the gut.  And changing beliefs is slow.  But there is a difference between those who recognize the facts and choose not to change and those whose beliefs trump all else regardless of the facts. For example, look back on our civil rights movements, the fight for Womens Rights, including their right just to vote!  Add apartheid and the middle east and you see how powerful beliefs and mental comfort zones are.

Thirdly, we haven't done a very good job of educating our society.  Public education has been in its comfort zone for a long time.  We test on facts but not thinking.  We make students recite the Pledge Of Allegiance daily but don't explain the words or why they have to do it.  We teach arithmetic and counting but not how to spend wisely.  They do learn how to be consumers and expect immediate gratification though.

And don't blame our kids--we're guilty too.  We know we should get our information from more than one source and not believe everything we see and hear on TV and the internet.  We know we should set an example and act responsibly  but we don't always (and in some cases rarely).  We know we should vote in every election not just every four years.

I hate to admit the possibility that there may well be people in positions of political and economic power who like us just the way we are:  "Take our word for it", don't pay attention to the facts, be fearful about the future and your safety and just keep spending.  I hope I'm wrong.