Voting: the misuse of knowledge
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Editor,
What is voting? Any decision (which breakfast cereal?) is a form of personal vote. It is an expression of confidence, safety, and hope in the outcome. The Primary Election reflects choices among ice cream flavors. In November, it is like choosing between ice cream and poison ivy.
Generally, we have never met the candidate. Why do we grant confidence even when we really know so little about the truth?
There is a process called “abstraction,” which demonstrates the distortion of information. Person A experiences a life full of colorful and varied details - and writes a book. Already much information/truth has disappeared. Person B writes a review – more is lost (ignored or distorted). Person C summarizes the review into a paragraph or sentence, etc. Eventually, an individual (far removed from the original source) abstracts the previous filtered information into a “word” and (with tremendous ignorance) picks YES or NO on the ballot.
But wait – there is more. Just as our language example demonstrates the regular loss/distortion of data – so also does our biological/neurological system. Starting with our perceptual abilities, we leave out untold amounts. We are made that way to be able to focus upon what seem to be details pertinent to our survival. We don’t even know what we missed.
Then come the channeling of unique DNA gatekeepers and neurological circuity, which has been hijacked to falsely excite the amygdala (fight or flight). A mental idea can excite the system just as much as an actual tiger. Somewhere in the synthesis of distorted external input and hijacked internal processing is the decision instinct of survival (or pleasure). That’s why people might vote for an image (posture or smile) rather than more rational data.
In essence, humans (as individuals) are error-producing machines. But as social groups, there can be an error-correction effect. The scientific method is a helpful technique to monitor errors and gradually approach “the truth of the Universe.” This takes time. Sometimes generations have to die out before a leap is made to a new acceptance of “reality.” Think Galileo. In the meantime, vote, see the consequences, and keep on adjusting.
Gene Johnson
Polson
