Doublethink

Although most people are familiar with the concept of cognitive dissonance, the postulation that a person confronted with facts that are contrary to their deeply held beliefs will feel uncomfortable, it seems obvious that George Orwell's concept of Doublethink is more common, by far.

Doublethink means that people can hold two contradictory beliefs, at the same time, and it troubles them not at all.

For instance, Americans who have been throwing a two year snit fit over unproved allegations that the Russians bought $45,000 worth of Facebook ads which caused millions of people to vote for Trump, are now, with no obvious signs of realizing their hypocrisy, fully supporting Trump's immediate recognition of an unelected dude in Venezuela declaring himself president, and the pressuring of the Empire's vassal states into doing the same.

How can you simultaneously believe that buying ads is an act of war on a nation, and that the US can overthrow an election and appoint a new president and that is perfectly fine? Doublethink, that's how.

How can you know that your country has stolen billions of dollars from Venezuela and is enforcing a blockade on food and supplies from entering that country and simultaneously self-righteously point fingers at them for not allowing "aid" from entering the country ( organized by a convicted war criminal who was busted for shipping weapons in "humanitarian aid" in 1986) ? How is it possible to believe that your country is simultaneously stealing from and starving people, and still believe that your country wants to send them "humanitarian aid"?

Doublethink, that is how.

We would be much better off if people had cognitive dissonance, instead.