conservatives live in an echo chamber, they are not receptive to evidence that goes against what they already believe:
âI donât think itâs a coincidence that Team Romneyâs polling cluelessness comes after years of conservatives demonizing pointy-headed academics, including scientists. On subjects like evolution, global warming, the biology of human conception, and even macroeconomics, conservatives have been increasingly bold about rejecting the consensus of scientific experts in favor of ideologically self-serving pronouncements. That attitude may have contributed to their loss of the White House in 2012. It will be much more costly for the country as a whole if it doesnât change before the GOP next captures the White House.
George W. Bushâs invasion of Iraq was a good example of the kind of damage that can be done when elected officials choose ideology over expertise. Bush didnât just ignore the many experts who warned that invading Iraq was a bad idea. The ideologues were so convinced the war would go well that they massively underestimated the amount of preparation that would be required for the occupation to go reasonably smoothly. As a result, the aftermath of the war was much more chaotic than it would have been if experienced experts had been more involved in the planning process. Many more people died and much more property was destroyed than would have occurred with proper planning.â
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2012/1...firmation-bias/comment-page-1/#comment-644666
âI donât think itâs a coincidence that Team Romneyâs polling cluelessness comes after years of conservatives demonizing pointy-headed academics, including scientists. On subjects like evolution, global warming, the biology of human conception, and even macroeconomics, conservatives have been increasingly bold about rejecting the consensus of scientific experts in favor of ideologically self-serving pronouncements. That attitude may have contributed to their loss of the White House in 2012. It will be much more costly for the country as a whole if it doesnât change before the GOP next captures the White House.
George W. Bushâs invasion of Iraq was a good example of the kind of damage that can be done when elected officials choose ideology over expertise. Bush didnât just ignore the many experts who warned that invading Iraq was a bad idea. The ideologues were so convinced the war would go well that they massively underestimated the amount of preparation that would be required for the occupation to go reasonably smoothly. As a result, the aftermath of the war was much more chaotic than it would have been if experienced experts had been more involved in the planning process. Many more people died and much more property was destroyed than would have occurred with proper planning.â
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2012/1...firmation-bias/comment-page-1/#comment-644666
