Introduction, and the Paradox of Choice

The first couple of posts on this blog have been a bit of a cold-open, but now it's time for an actual introduction. This blog isn't about me, so we won't dwell there, though it is motivated by my interest in politics and rational thinking. Lots of people disengage from the political process because it's confusing, they don't know where to start, or there seems to be too much to know. Aside from that, many are turned off by partisan vitriol. The anger that often attends political discourse is what makes politics one of the seven things you should never discuss.

We can do better than that, on both counts.

On this blog, I'll attempt to demystify political news by focusing on what's important, while ignoring trivia. I read a lot, but I'll share only articles that I find particularly illuminating. This will all make more sense if you read those articles too, and I genuinely hope you choose to comment.

I'll avoid article-dumps, posts with links to dozens of articles, because I think this is counterproductive. You may have heard of the Paradox of Choice, which posits consumers are impeded by an overabundance of choices. Decision paralysis results from staring at a shelf full of 27 different types of toothpaste. I wager this same principle applies to the reams of political opinions available online, so I'll try to sidestep it by presenting a curated few in each post.

I hope that we can think rationally through your priorities, and use those priorities to point you towards the candidates who best represent your interests. This is particularly important in a year with so many candidates running. The Republicans are offering 17 different people for your consideration; the Democrats technically have five, but there are only two worth noting. There are meaningful differences between each of the candidates, but it's interesting to contrast how each Primary field fares regarding the Paradox of Choice. Republicans will say that a sea of choices is superior to a "coronation", but picking a favorite from their lineup may be tough. 

Yesterday, I categorized the Republican candidates. There was some overlap between the categories, but chances are good (if you're a Republican) that you can decide which of those categories you fit into yourself. Focus your attention this way: which type of candidate do I want? Within that type, which of the 4 or 5 candidates do I like best? The field will inevitably shrink. Once it does, your list of choices will come into even sharper focus.

I mentioned priorities above, and this is an area where I think Americans need to improve. Swaths of the American electorate consistently vote against their own self-interest, usually due to some convenient wedge issue or fear-mongering from the candidates. Guard against this. I'll attempt to highlight instances of the candidates doing this, so that you can sift through it. 

So, again, join the conversation! Jump into the comments below the articles, and share them with your friends, if you enjoyed them. Avoid ambiguous participles, like I just failed to do. ("If you enjoyed your friends", or "If you enjoyed the articles"? The world will never know.)

-Eric