Change minds

Once people become comfortable with an idea, it is difficult for them to change their minds. This happens for a number of reasons. Something called confirmation bias (seeking information that supports existing beliefs), belief perseverance (clinging to beliefs even when disproven, and the brain’s natural fear of the unknown. Cognitive dissonance happens when people hold onto conflicting ideas. Starting slowly back in the 1990’s and getting stronger in time the idea that climate change could be challenged by using wind and solar. All of the articles then and since then have talked about the lowering cost of wind and solar and how bad CO2 from fossil fuels are to the climate. To many people it sounded like a panacea. Free electric power from the wind and the sun. Huge government subsidies were offered to reduce CO2 while stories about storms and fires and other natural disasters pushed the green ideas into the minds of the people. As time passed the shine wore off and information about the mining, processing and deposal of the materials needed for green energy exposed problems. Thirty years before the new green deal, the people were misled by other groups regarding nuclear power. The use of fear was used effectively to discredit nuclear and it also remains today. For those who are willing to change based on new evidence nuclear is the answer but it is not easy. As new information brings on the cognitive dissonance the people remain stuck. The story is told of the young girl who was invited to a friend’s birthday party. The friend came from a wealthy family and the girl’s mother told her not to accept any gifts as a matter of pride. When the host offered the girl an orange she reached out and took it while saying no thanks. Many people today find themselves in the same position of that little girl.