Gun Control and Political Theater

Gun Control and Political Theater

I've been waiting for someone to call the current "political drama" for what it is, but I can't wait any longer.  First, I want to say that everyone without exception is likely deeply saddened by what happened to Gabby Gifford and those killed around her as well as the children of Sandy Hook and any number of other "mass violence" horrors.  That said, this has nothing to do with the victims of the tragic events.

The issue is how cold and calculated the use of Gabby in the staging of an event where she spoke and the event was used for pure unadulterated political gain.  Pop quiz: 

a) Was she there only to express her personal feelings about gun control and protecting children?

b) Was she there for political theater to further a political agenda?

If you answered b), then you are correct and go to the head of the class!  Political theater is old as politics itself.  However, in the last decade we have seen staged political events become something that co-opt and appropriate victims for political gain. Wait you say! I have not been duped by political theater. I can understand that, however  research over many years would prove you wrong¹.  Staged events that evoke powerful emotions, will cause people to become "emotionally hi-jacked" and cause them to stop thinking rationally.  As humans, we are caught up in the moment (emotionally) and do not apply "critical thinking" about the topic.  This results in enabling politicians to push through new policy that otherwise would be thought of as irrational policy.  Think "hate crimes"; where murder became more than murder.  Regardless of intent, a person is dead.

Don't be fooled by political theater!  Stop and ask yourself; "What do I think about the policies under consideration?  Do I THINK we are doing something useful that will make a difference?"  And more importantly "Does this persuade me to believe it is worth giving away a sacred right?"

¹ "When championing a cause, people do not value lives consistently," write Small and her co-authors, George Loewenstein of Carnegie Mellon University and Paul Slovic of Decision Research, a non-profit research firm in Eugene, Ore. "Attention is often concentrated on a single victim or event even though more people would be helped if more critical thinking were applied to a specific issue in order to protect future victims."

In many cases, society "would be better off if actions taken will do the most good," according to the paper, titled "Sympathy and Callousness: The Impact of Deliberative Thought.  However, we are co-opted to act upon emotions and not with our head.