“The straight line, a respectable optical illusion which ruins many a man.”
Victor Hugo
Decision-making: the process of resolving what to do about something or somebody.
Every day someone somewhere has to make a decision. It could be something trivial or vitally important. But regardless of the seriousness of the matter, one must remember that he will have to live with the consequences of his actions for a long time.
The decision-making process should be based on facts. The more informed you are about a subject, the easier the decision. Or so it seems.
But decisions are more and more tainted by emotions such as fear, anger, envy, jealousy, rather than by a sober analysis of the facts.
Nowadays, when considering a candidate most voters rely on sound bites or video clips to make up their mind. And it is the most outrageous pronouncements that get the front page. It is the passion “the fire in the belly” of a candidate that often sways voters. Especially those who seldom bother to open a book or a newspaper.
With a pathetic disregard for truth, facts are doctored, distorted, negatively amplified to the point of becoming grotesquely inaccurate.
The Cleveland Republican National Convention looked eerily reminiscent of the Nuremberg Rally.
Ill-informed participants wildly acclaiming a narcissistic egomaniac promising to regenerate a “dying country” and make it great again… (just for party members.)
Barely missing was the raised right arm salute.
“The play was a great success, but the audience was a disaster.”
OSCAR WILDE
The election process has become a highly choreographed Hollywood telenovela where the main character (regardless of his obvious shortcomings) is more important than the plot.
But American elections are a deadly serious business watched with fear and astonishment by people all over the planet.
The results of the November plebiscite might possibly change the fate of the world… for the worst.
Ultimately, is it going to be Austerlitz or Waterloo?
Alain
PS: I have started to build a personal bunker, just in case…