Cognitive Dissonance

There are some thoughts that, if held together in the same skull, should simply cause one's brain to fizz over like they were baking soda and vinegar. Or explode, like combining dynamite and a flame. And yet some people are able to carry around within their minds these incompatible, deeply volatile opposites without causing apparent harm, to themselves at least:

 Because welfare is abused, we must make it harder to acquire

                                            Vs.

Because guns are abused, we must not make it harder to acquire them.

It’s not the government’s role to tell me how to live my life.

                                           Vs.

America should have a federal law that says everyone should speak English.

Belief that we are living in the end of times without proof.

                                           Vs.

The need for absolute proof before acting on global warming.

There have been some alleged voting regularities, therefore we should impose somewhat upon people’s right to vote by mandating voter ID.

                                          Vs.

There have been a lot of mass shootings lately, but you better not interfere with my sacred Second Amendment rights.

Politicians know nothing about business and should stop trying to regulate it.

                                          Vs.

Politicians know nothing about education but should hold schools to be accountable.

People who are given everything never learn to work for themselves.

                                          Vs.

We should do away with the inheritance tax.

We believe in American exceptionalism, that it is our nation’s role to lead the way.

                                         Vs.

Why should we be the ones to do something about climate change when China is polluting more than we are?

Climate scientists are being alarmists in order to make money.

                                        Vs.

Oil industry execs are only interested in the unbiased truth.

Wisconsin Republicans should change civil service laws to make it easier to fire people not doing their job.

                                       Vs.

Wisconsin Republicans should get rid of the option to recall the governor.

Slavery happened 150 years ago and blacks should get over it.
                                       Vs.
Don't take my rebel flag away from me!

P.S. If this list is skewed liberal, let it be known I intend a Part 2 of Cognitive Dissonance.