One question that drives some social scientists crazy is: Why do American voters constantly vote against their own interests? Why do so many people of modest means support the Tea Party, a movement that will cause their economic plight to be worse than it is already?
Some people will say that Americans are easily manipulated. While I think there is a great amount of truth to this supposition, it still begs the question, why?
There are a multitude of reasons, but I think the primary one is that most members of the American public are delusional. Far too many people believe that they are one lucky break away from striking it rich. This lucky break may come from winning a lottery, landing a better job, inheriting a fortune from some unknown distant relative, developing the next great invention or being discovered by Hollywood or the music industry.
While the middle class has been shrinking over the past decade, in polls and opinion surveys, most Americans -- regardless of the shaky state of their finances -- self-identify as being in that middle class. If one thinks of themselves as middle class, then you only are one step away from being upper class!
If a person firmly believes he or she will soon be wealthy beyond their wildest dreams, then he or she will support candidates, laws and policies that keep taxes very low for the über-rich.
Of course, about 99 percent of the people who think their fortune is waiting for them around the next corner will soon discover there is no pot 'o gold there. They will struggle all their lives simply to keep their heads above water. Their true situation will grow ever more dour because their delusion will cause them to support the very candidates and policies that will make it next too impossible for them to realize their dreams.
Some people will say that Americans are easily manipulated. While I think there is a great amount of truth to this supposition, it still begs the question, why?
There are a multitude of reasons, but I think the primary one is that most members of the American public are delusional. Far too many people believe that they are one lucky break away from striking it rich. This lucky break may come from winning a lottery, landing a better job, inheriting a fortune from some unknown distant relative, developing the next great invention or being discovered by Hollywood or the music industry.
While the middle class has been shrinking over the past decade, in polls and opinion surveys, most Americans -- regardless of the shaky state of their finances -- self-identify as being in that middle class. If one thinks of themselves as middle class, then you only are one step away from being upper class!
If a person firmly believes he or she will soon be wealthy beyond their wildest dreams, then he or she will support candidates, laws and policies that keep taxes very low for the über-rich.
Of course, about 99 percent of the people who think their fortune is waiting for them around the next corner will soon discover there is no pot 'o gold there. They will struggle all their lives simply to keep their heads above water. Their true situation will grow ever more dour because their delusion will cause them to support the very candidates and policies that will make it next too impossible for them to realize their dreams.
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