How Do You Form Your Political Beliefs?
So, how did you get here, to this point where you have developed stringent beliefs, morals, and opinions? ItâEUR(TM)s how you were raised, the experiences youâEUR(TM)ve had, and something else that seems intangible. What makes some of us liberal and some of us conservative, but makes all of us certain that we are the ones who have it right?
It is difficult to understand. In fact, itâEUR(TM)s probably impossible to understand. ItâEUR(TM)s important to navigate life with a moral compass, to stick to the beliefs we feel strongly about, to stand up for whatâEUR(TM)s right, and to do our best to make the world an enjoyable place to live. It seems simple enough, but it certainly isnâEUR(TM)t. There is a little thing that often gets in the way of seeing the basic truth in situations, and itâEUR(TM)s called ideology.
IâEUR(TM)ve been thinking much about this as weâEUR(TM)re encountering many messages from presidential candidates and deciding in whose hands weâEUR(TM)re going put AmericaâEUR(TM)s well being next. A recent Bloomberg View article by Peter Orszag examines the stalemate AmericaâEUR(TM)s government canâEUR(TM)t seem to break through, and how itâEUR(TM)s not just an extremely polarized Congress but an extremely polarized public that is worsening the problem every day. Orszag explains how we literally seem to be sorting ourselves into neighborhoods where we can be surrounded by people who share our beliefs. As I said, beliefs are important. But belief without awareness, consideration, and challenge is dangerous.
I wonâEUR(TM)t attempt to thoroughly explore ideology in this short post; itâEUR(TM)s a broad topic to be sure. But there are dangerous elements of ideology. Sometimes ideology leads us to have beliefs without consideration, and to refuse to hear or compromise with a different opinion, to say, prevent the country from defaulting on debt or prevent a crazy-in-love couple from being able to legally marry.
Generally speaking, ideology is a manner of thinking, or a system of beliefs and theories shared by a group of people or that comprises a sociopolitical system. It has been criticized by many, perhaps most notably Karl Marx who thought it to be a false consciousness. Ideology is a generally accepted mode of thinking that often goes unexamined. One might stringently claim to be liberal or democrat because they were raised that way or because theyâEUR(TM)ve been influenced by teachers, friends, and so on. But if they examine their core beliefs or really get to the why of their beliefs, they canâEUR(TM)t find much ground to stand on.
My point in all of this: our country isnâEUR(TM)t in the best shape. WeâEUR(TM)re more disagreeable amongst each other than we have been in a long, long timeâEUR"something repeated by Peter Orszag in his column consistently. WeâEUR(TM)re approaching an opportunity to examine why we have certain beliefs, and if theyâEUR(TM)re really beliefs or just accepted concepts, and to vote according to whatâEUR(TM)s the closest thing to true and right, not just what weâEUR(TM)ve always accepted.
For more information about the Bloomberg Article by Peter Orszag and other information from Peter Orszag, please feel free to check out these links.