IntelligentStandards.com

Alarm bells should go off in your head WHENEVER someone says, "we need to do [insert action] to protect OUR [insert noun]." When a candidate says anything that fits that pattern, it's time to find another candidate.

Here's some examples to make this more specific:

• "We need to boycott some movie to protect OUR children."
• "We need to prohibit flag desecration to protect OUR freedoms."
• "We need to create a "zero tolerance" policy to protect OUR schools.
• "We need to build a giant fence to protect OUR culture and very way of life."
• "We need to pass huge tariffs to protect OUR jobs."
• "We need to add an anti-gay amendment to the Constitution to protect OUR institution of marriage."

See how this works?
 
A well-intentioned (or perhaps over-reaching) politician can posit virtually any ridiculous notion and, by appealing to a perceived common interest (Our Freedoms, Our institution of marriage, Our way of life, Our Children, and so on), makes the argument not only seem plausible, but something we must act on now!
 

As if somehow there is a connection between the ridiculous notion and the proposed antidote! But there it is - all laid out for you in one neat little sound bite: OF COURSE we all want to protect our culture and way of life, so I guess we do need to build a big friggin' fence. No other choice about it. Nevermind trying to address or even understand the real issues... too hard. Let's just build a big friggin' fence. After all - we DO want to protect our culture and way of life, don't we?
 

This is the source of Group-Think - and we know now it gets folks into trouble. Let me suggest, if I may, that we see this principle at work every time someone says, "We've got to fight them there so we don't have to fight them here." Once people begin thinking this way, they become closed to other possibilities.
 

Today, more than ever, we need leaders in our workplaces, in our churches, in our schools, in our communities, in our homes, and in our government that comprehend nuance. Our planet, our world, the fabric of our society is too complex and simply cannot be reduced to a pure "black and white" proposition.
 

So the next time the politicians step up and say, oh, for example, "We've got to eavesdrop on our own citizens (without any real reason) - for OUR protection" - you'll be right to wonder whether they're more concerned about their OWN protection - than OURS.