GROUP THINK
There was an old line that you’d hear within organizations, snidely commenting on why things were done: “There IS no reason. It’s Company Policy!” (Or Army Policy, University Policy, etc.)
This comes to mind as I listen to reports on the radio that one or another decision, statement or action has emerged in the public and political world. It’s always obvious that the Liberals are doing Liberal things, and the Other People are doing Other People things, with a marvelous consistency and predictability within the groups.
But no one ever bothers to give an explanation of how what they are doing actually dovetails with an articulate philosophy, if such an explanation is even feasable. It is always just intuitively, imitatively or viscerally understood that that’s what one does when one is part of that crowd. No explanation necessary! Dialog disappears, giving way to hostility and contention. How dare you ask me to explain myself! Are you one of Them?
