This thing veers all over the political map, embracing ideologies from the birthers to the conspiracy theorists. It claims that the United States is a Communist nation (it isn't), Barack Obama never released his birth certificate (he did) and we're living under tyranny (we're not).
Since my friend apparently accepts this silliness as is, it got me thinking: why do so many otherwise sensible people fall for this sort of stuff?
In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker asks Yoda if the dark side of the Force is stronger than the light side. "No," the Jedi Master replies. "Quicker, easier, more seductive." And so it seems to be with so many of these wild claims.
Take the current debate over health care. Few would argue that our present system of health coverage is the best there is. Fifteen percent of Americans have no health insurance at all; when they get sick or injured, they must either pay huge sums out of pocket or go to the hospital emergency room for free care, in which case the taxpayers pick up the tab.
The rest of us have insurance, either through one's employer, through the government (military, VA, Medicare or Medicaid) or bought privately. But in far too many cases, people still find themselves in desperate straits, losing their coverage through "rescission." This euphemism masks the noxious practice of yanking coverage just when it's needed the most, usually for the flimsiest of reasons.
I can hear people out there saying, "But that could never happen to me." Don't be so sure. Last month, the American Journal of Medicine released a study with some frightening conclusions:
- 62% of all bankruptcies in 2007 were at least partially caused by medical debt (up from just 8% in 1981)
- 78% of people who went bankrupt due to medical costs had health insurance when they became sick or injured
That is more than appalling. That is obscene.
But the current Democratic proposal for reforming the system (the Republicans didn't bother to offer any proposals of their own) is being attacked by people who don't want the system reformed. They call it "socialized medicine" or "medical fascism" and spread scare stories to frighten people into knee-jerk opposition. You will be forced to accept government health coverage! Government inspectors will enter your home to monitor your parenting! The government will mandate euthanasia for seniors!
Of course, all of these are nonsense, as can be quickly learned from actually reading the legislation text. (Secure that their rhetorical targets either cannot or will not look for themselves, writers of the aforementioned scare stories helpfully provide the exact page numbers, making debunking a snap.)
But my point is this: Even when something is clearly in their best interest, people can still be suckered into opposing it. People can and will believe the most ridiculous things possible. After all, look at how many still think the moon landings were faked, or that Jews control the world, or that 9/11 was an inside job.
But why? Perhaps it's because, as Yoda said, it's simply easier. Sometimes people are all too willing to let someone else do the thinking for them. Sometimes people are so scared of change they will grasp at anything, no matter how insane, which promises normalcy, even if that normalcy will hurt them. It's always a distressing development when people embrace this lunacy, and it's even more distressing when a friend does so.
When Luke asks how he can distinguish the good side of the Force from the bad side, Yoda answers, "You will know. When you are calm, at peace."
Maybe all that's required is to slow down and think with a clear head.
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