How to overcome political bias | Eric Merkley | TEDxECUAD

[Applause]

[Applause] so what a mess we have

so what a mess we have

so what a mess we have south-of-the-border how many of you are

south-of-the-border how many of you are

south-of-the-border how many of you are deeply concerned about what’s going on

deeply concerned about what’s going on

deeply concerned about what’s going on in American politics and really wants

in American politics and really wants

in American politics and really wants some answers well I count myself in the

some answers well I count myself in the

some answers well I count myself in the same boat and in days what I’m not

same boat and in days what I’m not

same boat and in days what I’m not turtled up in a corner desperately

turtled up in a corner desperately

turtled up in a corner desperately trying to avoid the news it motivates my

trying to avoid the news it motivates my

trying to avoid the news it motivates my research in political science what I’m

research in political science what I’m

research in political science what I’m particularly concerned about is the

particularly concerned about is the

particularly concerned about is the increasing rejection of policy expertise

increasing rejection of policy expertise

increasing rejection of policy expertise and science in some segments of the

and science in some segments of the

and science in some segments of the public and in the rise of misinformation

public and in the rise of misinformation

public and in the rise of misinformation how many of you think a big part of the

how many of you think a big part of the

how many of you think a big part of the problem is well to put it bluntly

problem is well to put it bluntly

problem is well to put it bluntly conservatives or people on the political

conservatives or people on the political

conservatives or people on the political right and if you think that there’s

right and if you think that there’s

right and if you think that there’s reason to believe it

reason to believe it

reason to believe it after all conservatives are more likely

after all conservatives are more likely

after all conservatives are more likely to reject climate science and despite a

to reject climate science and despite a

to reject climate science and despite a professed belief in markets they’re most

professed belief in markets they’re most

professed belief in markets they’re most often at odds with the advice of

often at odds with the advice of

often at odds with the advice of economists on the social benefits of

economists on the social benefits of

economists on the social benefits of carbon taxes and immigration and we’ve

carbon taxes and immigration and we’ve

carbon taxes and immigration and we’ve seen the rise of fake news on the right

seen the rise of fake news on the right

seen the rise of fake news on the right websites have popped up some of them

websites have popped up some of them

websites have popped up some of them designed to look legitimate like the

designed to look legitimate like the

designed to look legitimate like the Boston Tribune or fake ABC News on the

Boston Tribune or fake ABC News on the

Boston Tribune or fake ABC News on the screen and they spread misinformation

screen and they spread misinformation

screen and they spread misinformation and lies and that’s to say nothing of

and lies and that’s to say nothing of

and lies and that’s to say nothing of the impact of Donald Trump and American

the impact of Donald Trump and American

the impact of Donald Trump and American politics but it may surprise you to know

politics but it may surprise you to know

politics but it may surprise you to know as it did to me when I was doing my

as it did to me when I was doing my

as it did to me when I was doing my research that the rejection of expertise

research that the rejection of expertise

research that the rejection of expertise and the embrace of misinformation isn’t

and the embrace of misinformation isn’t

and the embrace of misinformation isn’t solely a conservative phenomenon we all

solely a conservative phenomenon we all

solely a conservative phenomenon we all do it at times for example some liberals

do it at times for example some liberals

do it at times for example some liberals are often at odds with the expert

are often at odds with the expert

are often at odds with the expert consensus on a number of issues where it

consensus on a number of issues where it

consensus on a number of issues where it conflicts with their worldviews for

conflicts with their worldviews for

conflicts with their worldviews for example the scientific consensus that

example the scientific consensus that

example the scientific consensus that genetically modified foods are as safe

genetically modified foods are as safe

genetically modified foods are as safe as conventional alternatives or the

as conventional alternatives or the

as conventional alternatives or the consensus among conservative and liberal

consensus among conservative and liberal

consensus among conservative and liberal economists that free trade is good not

economists that free trade is good not

economists that free trade is good not just for us but for our trading partners

just for us but for our trading partners

just for us but for our trading partners as well by lowering the cost of goods

as well by lowering the cost of goods

as well by lowering the cost of goods and services

and services

and services and expanding market access for

and expanding market access for

and expanding market access for developing countries we’ve also seen the

developing countries we’ve also seen the

developing countries we’ve also seen the rise of fake news on the Left which is

rise of fake news on the Left which is

rise of fake news on the Left which is preying on people’s anxiety deep-seated

preying on people’s anxiety deep-seated

preying on people’s anxiety deep-seated anxiety they feel about the Trump

anxiety they feel about the Trump

anxiety they feel about the Trump presidency Twitter feeds have popped up

presidency Twitter feeds have popped up

presidency Twitter feeds have popped up by people claiming to be Rohit staffers

by people claiming to be Rohit staffers

by people claiming to be Rohit staffers in the Trump administration Snopes and

in the Trump administration Snopes and

in the Trump administration Snopes and others can find no evidence that they

others can find no evidence that they

others can find no evidence that they are real and viral articles have spread

are real and viral articles have spread

are real and viral articles have spread some with shocking headlines that seem

some with shocking headlines that seem

some with shocking headlines that seem reasonable for progressives that read

reasonable for progressives that read

reasonable for progressives that read them but are fake nonetheless so what on

them but are fake nonetheless so what on

them but are fake nonetheless so what on earth is going on here well the point I

earth is going on here well the point I

earth is going on here well the point I want to make to you tonight is that note

want to make to you tonight is that note

want to make to you tonight is that note neither side of the political divide has

neither side of the political divide has

neither side of the political divide has a monopoly on truth or fact that we all

a monopoly on truth or fact that we all

a monopoly on truth or fact that we all selectively engage with information in

selectively engage with information in

selectively engage with information in our political environment to serve the

our political environment to serve the

our political environment to serve the social interests of the groups that we

social interests of the groups that we

social interests of the groups that we identify with and our own social

identify with and our own social

identify with and our own social identities the root of this is in human

identities the root of this is in human

identities the root of this is in human evolution people that were able to

evolution people that were able to

evolution people that were able to cooperate socially in group settings how

cooperate socially in group settings how

cooperate socially in group settings how did it Heritage vantage over those that

did it Heritage vantage over those that

did it Heritage vantage over those that could not and part of ensuring that

could not and part of ensuring that

could not and part of ensuring that effective cooperation is preventing free

effective cooperation is preventing free

effective cooperation is preventing free ridership or the betrayal of the group

ridership or the betrayal of the group

ridership or the betrayal of the group for personal gain those that were able

for personal gain those that were able

for personal gain those that were able to put the group first even at their own

to put the group first even at their own

to put the group first even at their own expense had an advantage in surviving in

expense had an advantage in surviving in

expense had an advantage in surviving in the long run so over time our impressive

the long run so over time our impressive

the long run so over time our impressive cognitive abilities have become

cognitive abilities have become

cognitive abilities have become hardwired not to seek out truth or fact

hardwired not to seek out truth or fact

hardwired not to seek out truth or fact but to serve the goals and interests of

but to serve the goals and interests of

but to serve the goals and interests of the groups that we deeply identify with

the groups that we deeply identify with

the groups that we deeply identify with so we often reflexively accept

so we often reflexively accept

so we often reflexively accept information that serves their interests

information that serves their interests

information that serves their interests and will reject information on a

and will reject information on a

and will reject information on a hair-trigger

hair-trigger

hair-trigger or counter argue it away if it

or counter argue it away if it

or counter argue it away if it undermines their interests our intuition

undermines their interests our intuition

undermines their interests our intuition guides our reason we don’t do this

guides our reason we don’t do this

guides our reason we don’t do this consciously and this is not just about

consciously and this is not just about

consciously and this is not just about politics it affects us in all facets of

politics it affects us in all facets of

politics it affects us in all facets of our daily lives when when our groups are

our daily lives when when our groups are

our daily lives when when our groups are at risk even in sports I’m a long

at risk even in sports I’m a long

at risk even in sports I’m a long suffering Buffalo Bills fan

suffering Buffalo Bills fan

suffering Buffalo Bills fan there’s young me on the left there’s

there’s young me on the left there’s

there’s young me on the left there’s current me on the right sad the Buffalo

current me on the right sad the Buffalo

current me on the right sad the Buffalo Bills have the misfortune of being in

Bills have the misfortune of being in

Bills have the misfortune of being in the same division as Tom Brady and the

the same division as Tom Brady and the

the same division as Tom Brady and the New England Patriots so I really really

New England Patriots so I really really

New England Patriots so I really really really don’t like Tom Brady when people

really don’t like Tom Brady when people

really don’t like Tom Brady when people say oh well he’s the greatest

say oh well he’s the greatest

say oh well he’s the greatest quarterback of all time I have trouble

quarterback of all time I have trouble

quarterback of all time I have trouble accepting that five Super Bowls records

accepting that five Super Bowls records

accepting that five Super Bowls records oh he’s clutch and I’ll come up with all

oh he’s clutch and I’ll come up with all

oh he’s clutch and I’ll come up with all sorts of different justifications for

sorts of different justifications for

sorts of different justifications for why that’s not the case well he had

why that’s not the case well he had

why that’s not the case well he had great defenses he had excellent coaching

great defenses he had excellent coaching

great defenses he had excellent coaching you can’t compare him to other

you can’t compare him to other

you can’t compare him to other quarterbacks or the reason you’re

quarterbacks or the reason you’re

quarterbacks or the reason you’re probably most familiar with well he

probably most familiar with well he

probably most familiar with well he cheated by deflating footballs spying on

cheated by deflating footballs spying on

cheated by deflating footballs spying on other teams who knows what else is going

other teams who knows what else is going

other teams who knows what else is going on there and these are reasonable

on there and these are reasonable

on there and these are reasonable justifications on the face but I don’t

justifications on the face but I don’t

justifications on the face but I don’t come to them with a with a desire to

come to them with a with a desire to

come to them with a with a desire to really know who the best quarterback is

really know who the best quarterback is

really know who the best quarterback is they’re merely rationalizations for

they’re merely rationalizations for

they’re merely rationalizations for something I will believe regardless of

something I will believe regardless of

something I will believe regardless of the evidence so what does this mean in

the evidence so what does this mean in

the evidence so what does this mean in the practice of politics well it means

the practice of politics well it means

the practice of politics well it means that often the case that information

that often the case that information

that often the case that information isn’t enough whether its climate science

isn’t enough whether its climate science

isn’t enough whether its climate science or economic research on free trade or

or economic research on free trade or

or economic research on free trade or fact checks why because information is

fact checks why because information is

fact checks why because information is rarely neutral it has implications for

rarely neutral it has implications for

rarely neutral it has implications for the social groups that we deeply value

the social groups that we deeply value

the social groups that we deeply value and often is that times we are just

and often is that times we are just

and often is that times we are just simply not motivated to accept

simply not motivated to accept

simply not motivated to accept information seriously that undermines

information seriously that undermines

information seriously that undermines those interests the second thing that it

those interests the second thing that it

those interests the second thing that it means is that this is hardly an American

means is that this is hardly an American

means is that this is hardly an American phenomenon that as any society becomes

phenomenon that as any society becomes

phenomenon that as any society becomes more deeply polarized ideologically the

more deeply polarized ideologically the

more deeply polarized ideologically the incentive for this motivation increases

incentive for this motivation increases

incentive for this motivation increases and this is happening in Canada scholars

and this is happening in Canada scholars

and this is happening in Canada scholars have shown like Chris Cochrane at U of T

have shown like Chris Cochrane at U of T

have shown like Chris Cochrane at U of T that Canada’s political parties have

that Canada’s political parties have

that Canada’s political parties have polarized over the last few decades

polarized over the last few decades

polarized over the last few decades conservative parties have moved to the

conservative parties have moved to the

conservative parties have moved to the right the Liberal Party has moved to the

right the Liberal Party has moved to the

right the Liberal Party has moved to the left and the center has become vacant

left and the center has become vacant

left and the center has become vacant and this has trickled down at a public

and this has trickled down at a public

and this has trickled down at a public opinion I’m going to show you some data

opinion I’m going to show you some data

opinion I’m going to show you some data from the Canadian election study the

from the Canadian election study the

from the Canadian election study the graph I’m about to show you

graph I’m about to show you

graph I’m about to show you plots how negatively people feel about

plots how negatively people feel about

plots how negatively people feel about the party that they are ideologically

the party that they are ideologically

the party that they are ideologically opposed to on a zero to 50 scale of 50

opposed to on a zero to 50 scale of 50

opposed to on a zero to 50 scale of 50 being neutral and what the data shows is

being neutral and what the data shows is

being neutral and what the data shows is that over time liberal supporters and

that over time liberal supporters and

that over time liberal supporters and NDP supporters have increasingly come to

NDP supporters have increasingly come to

NDP supporters have increasingly come to dislike the Conservative Party and its

dislike the Conservative Party and its

dislike the Conservative Party and its legacy parties not just the Harper years

legacy parties not just the Harper years

legacy parties not just the Harper years and conservative supporters have

and conservative supporters have

and conservative supporters have increasingly come to dislike the

increasingly come to dislike the

increasingly come to dislike the Liberals and while they’ve never really

Liberals and while they’ve never really

Liberals and while they’ve never really liked the NDP unsurprisingly so over

liked the NDP unsurprisingly so over

liked the NDP unsurprisingly so over time

time

time Canadians used to really like their own

Canadians used to really like their own

Canadians used to really like their own party but there are more or less

party but there are more or less

party but there are more or less ambivalent towards the parties that they

ambivalent towards the parties that they

ambivalent towards the parties that they opposed but that’s no longer the case

opposed but that’s no longer the case

opposed but that’s no longer the case now they really really don’t like them

now they really really don’t like them

now they really really don’t like them and it’s getting worse and this is an

and it’s getting worse and this is an

and it’s getting worse and this is an awful lot like what we see in the United

awful lot like what we see in the United

awful lot like what we see in the United States where Democratic and Republican

States where Democratic and Republican

States where Democratic and Republican supporters increasingly have come to

supporters increasingly have come to

supporters increasingly have come to dislike the opposing party not just the

dislike the opposing party not just the

dislike the opposing party not just the party itself but its supporters as well

party itself but its supporters as well

party itself but its supporters as well so Canadians just like Americans are now

so Canadians just like Americans are now

so Canadians just like Americans are now motivated more than ever to see the

motivated more than ever to see the

motivated more than ever to see the world through a partisan or ideological

world through a partisan or ideological

world through a partisan or ideological lens some of the research I’m working on

lens some of the research I’m working on

lens some of the research I’m working on at UBC looks at exactly this question

at UBC looks at exactly this question

at UBC looks at exactly this question the degree to which Canadians are biased

the degree to which Canadians are biased

the degree to which Canadians are biased in our perceptions of politics I

in our perceptions of politics I

in our perceptions of politics I surveyed UBC undergraduate political

surveyed UBC undergraduate political

surveyed UBC undergraduate political science students broadly anti

science students broadly anti

science students broadly anti conservative sample I asked them to give

conservative sample I asked them to give

conservative sample I asked them to give me their evaluation of the state of

me their evaluation of the state of

me their evaluation of the state of Canadian Canadian economy and I gave

Canadian Canadian economy and I gave

Canadian Canadian economy and I gave them either a piece of positive or

them either a piece of positive or

them either a piece of positive or negative information about the economy

negative information about the economy

negative information about the economy that contradicted their beliefs they

that contradicted their beliefs they

that contradicted their beliefs they were then given the ability to change

were then given the ability to change

were then given the ability to change their mind about the economy students

their mind about the economy students

their mind about the economy students were sorted into two groups one in which

were sorted into two groups one in which

were sorted into two groups one in which the implications of that economic

the implications of that economic

the implications of that economic information benefited or hurt the

information benefited or hurt the

information benefited or hurt the current Liberal government and another

current Liberal government and another

current Liberal government and another were reflected on the record of the

were reflected on the record of the

were reflected on the record of the previous Harper government if Canadians

previous Harper government if Canadians

previous Harper government if Canadians are biased in our perceptions of

are biased in our perceptions of

are biased in our perceptions of politics we expect the only change their

politics we expect the only change their

politics we expect the only change their minds about the economy if it benefits

minds about the economy if it benefits

minds about the economy if it benefits their team in this case the Liberal

their team in this case the Liberal

their team in this case the Liberal Party of

Party of

Party of nada and that’s exactly what we find

nada and that’s exactly what we find

nada and that’s exactly what we find when given a piece of positive

when given a piece of positive

when given a piece of positive information about the economy they

information about the economy they

information about the economy they change their minds overwhelmingly when

change their minds overwhelmingly when

change their minds overwhelmingly when it benefits the Liberals and hardly at

it benefits the Liberals and hardly at

it benefits the Liberals and hardly at all if it benefits the Conservatives and

all if it benefits the Conservatives and

all if it benefits the Conservatives and the mirror opposite is true

the mirror opposite is true

the mirror opposite is true when given negative information they’re

when given negative information they’re

when given negative information they’re more willing to think the economy’s

more willing to think the economy’s

more willing to think the economy’s doing poorly if it reflected badly on

doing poorly if it reflected badly on

doing poorly if it reflected badly on the legacy of the Harper government but

the legacy of the Harper government but

the legacy of the Harper government but didn’t change their minds at all on

didn’t change their minds at all on

didn’t change their minds at all on average when it hurt the current Liberal

average when it hurt the current Liberal

average when it hurt the current Liberal government so Canadians just like

government so Canadians just like

government so Canadians just like Americans are biased in our perceptions

Americans are biased in our perceptions

Americans are biased in our perceptions of politics what can happen down there

of politics what can happen down there

of politics what can happen down there can happen up here as well so what can

can happen up here as well so what can

can happen up here as well so what can we do the story have told you is rather

we do the story have told you is rather

we do the story have told you is rather bleak we’re all hardwired to reject

bleak we’re all hardwired to reject

bleak we’re all hardwired to reject information or at least not engage with

information or at least not engage with

information or at least not engage with it seriously if it goes against the

it seriously if it goes against the

it seriously if it goes against the interests of our social groups and these

interests of our social groups and these

interests of our social groups and these identities have never been more salient

identities have never been more salient

identities have never been more salient than they are nowadays there aren’t any

than they are nowadays there aren’t any

than they are nowadays there aren’t any easy answers but there are three things

easy answers but there are three things

easy answers but there are three things I think we can do to make our politics a

I think we can do to make our politics a

I think we can do to make our politics a little bit more productive first when

little bit more productive first when

little bit more productive first when you become more skeptical consumers a

you become more skeptical consumers a

you become more skeptical consumers a political news that’s shared

political news that’s shared

political news that’s shared especially on social media fake news

especially on social media fake news

especially on social media fake news isn’t going away it preys on our

isn’t going away it preys on our

isn’t going away it preys on our instinctual reaction to accept

instinctual reaction to accept

instinctual reaction to accept information that benefits our partisan

information that benefits our partisan

information that benefits our partisan or ideological identities and we don’t

or ideological identities and we don’t

or ideological identities and we don’t even recognize fake news when we see it

even recognize fake news when we see it

even recognize fake news when we see it a collaborator of mine at UBC Dominic’s

a collaborator of mine at UBC Dominic’s

a collaborator of mine at UBC Dominic’s Tet Silla surveyed UBC students who are

Tet Silla surveyed UBC students who are

Tet Silla surveyed UBC students who are really politically engaged he asked them

really politically engaged he asked them

really politically engaged he asked them to rate the legitimacy of various fake

to rate the legitimacy of various fake

to rate the legitimacy of various fake and real media sources on a scale of

and real media sources on a scale of

and real media sources on a scale of zero to a hundred where a hundred is

zero to a hundred where a hundred is

zero to a hundred where a hundred is very legitimate what he found was that

very legitimate what he found was that

very legitimate what he found was that students could scarcely distinguish

students could scarcely distinguish

students could scarcely distinguish between highly credible news sources

between highly credible news sources

between highly credible news sources like The Globe and Mail and

like The Globe and Mail and

like The Globe and Mail and well-designed fake news sites like fake

well-designed fake news sites like fake

well-designed fake news sites like fake ABC that I showed you earlier he also

ABC that I showed you earlier he also

ABC that I showed you earlier he also found that students tended to perceive

found that students tended to perceive

found that students tended to perceive fake news sites as more legitimate than

fake news sites as more legitimate than

fake news sites as more legitimate than new sources they ideologically disagree

new sources they ideologically disagree

new sources they ideologically disagree with

so a fake news comes to Canada were

so a fake news comes to Canada were vulnerable to its effects we

vulnerable to its effects we

vulnerable to its effects we instinctively accept information that

instinctively accept information that

instinctively accept information that benefits our social groups and we don’t

benefits our social groups and we don’t

benefits our social groups and we don’t even recognize fake news and we see it

even recognize fake news and we see it

even recognize fake news and we see it so we need to do a better job to be

so we need to do a better job to be

so we need to do a better job to be skeptical of news stories that are

skeptical of news stories that are

skeptical of news stories that are clearly designed to manipulate our

clearly designed to manipulate our

clearly designed to manipulate our intuitions and our emotions we need to

intuitions and our emotions we need to

intuitions and our emotions we need to be more curious and more skeptical

be more curious and more skeptical

be more curious and more skeptical we need to bolster our inner fact

we need to bolster our inner fact

we need to bolster our inner fact checkers because fake news isn’t going

checkers because fake news isn’t going

checkers because fake news isn’t going away it also wouldn’t hurt to break out

away it also wouldn’t hurt to break out

away it also wouldn’t hurt to break out of our ideological silos by exposing us

of our ideological silos by exposing us

of our ideological silos by exposing us to a greater number of viewpoints well

to a greater number of viewpoints well

to a greater number of viewpoints well better able to pick up on stories of

better able to pick up on stories of

better able to pick up on stories of dubious validity in a sense we outsource

dubious validity in a sense we outsource

dubious validity in a sense we outsource our fact checker to more motivated

our fact checker to more motivated

our fact checker to more motivated others the second big thing we need to

others the second big thing we need to

others the second big thing we need to do is become more aware of our own

do is become more aware of our own

do is become more aware of our own ideological biases I used to be a

ideological biases I used to be a

ideological biases I used to be a dyed-in-the-wool partisan I worked

dyed-in-the-wool partisan I worked

dyed-in-the-wool partisan I worked volunteered for federal and provincial

volunteered for federal and provincial

volunteered for federal and provincial conservative parties for a number of

conservative parties for a number of

conservative parties for a number of years and then afterwards I became a

years and then afterwards I became a

years and then afterwards I became a deeply ideological libertarian I lived

deeply ideological libertarian I lived

deeply ideological libertarian I lived in an echo chamber don’t be like old me

in an echo chamber don’t be like old me

in an echo chamber don’t be like old me in the course of my research I gained to

in the course of my research I gained to

in the course of my research I gained to gain a greater appreciation of my own

gain a greater appreciation of my own

gain a greater appreciation of my own cognitive bias and I was able to break

cognitive bias and I was able to break

cognitive bias and I was able to break out of that silo and update some of my

out of that silo and update some of my

out of that silo and update some of my more questionable beliefs like denying

more questionable beliefs like denying

more questionable beliefs like denying the reality of climate change this

the reality of climate change this

the reality of climate change this information the awareness of our own

information the awareness of our own

information the awareness of our own bias is a crucial tool for an effective

bias is a crucial tool for an effective

bias is a crucial tool for an effective Democratic citizen this information

Democratic citizen this information

Democratic citizen this information needs to be exposed to young people at

needs to be exposed to young people at

needs to be exposed to young people at an early age just like civics without it

an early age just like civics without it

an early age just like civics without it we delude ourselves into thinking that

we delude ourselves into thinking that

we delude ourselves into thinking that facts are only in the domain of our own

facts are only in the domain of our own

facts are only in the domain of our own ideological group and that as the

ideological group and that as the

ideological group and that as the implication of us tending to talk down

implication of us tending to talk down

implication of us tending to talk down to those that disagree with us and that

to those that disagree with us and that

to those that disagree with us and that creates a toxic environment that makes

creates a toxic environment that makes

creates a toxic environment that makes cross partisan persuasion impossible

cross partisan persuasion impossible

cross partisan persuasion impossible which brings me to my third point we

which brings me to my third point we

which brings me to my third point we really need more cross partisan

really need more cross partisan

really need more cross partisan persuasion with a little bit more

persuasion with a little bit more

persuasion with a little bit more humility it’s possible and it’s the only

humility it’s possible and it’s the only

humility it’s possible and it’s the only way we can effectively tackle

way we can effectively tackle

way we can effectively tackle the pressing challenges of our time like

the pressing challenges of our time like

the pressing challenges of our time like dealing with climate change that require

dealing with climate change that require

dealing with climate change that require societal consensus we might be surprised

societal consensus we might be surprised

societal consensus we might be surprised by the world of opportunities that are

by the world of opportunities that are

by the world of opportunities that are out there that go unexplored there are

out there that go unexplored there are

out there that go unexplored there are solid conservative arguments for dealing

solid conservative arguments for dealing

solid conservative arguments for dealing with climate change great free market

with climate change great free market

with climate change great free market economists like Milton Friedman were in

economists like Milton Friedman were in

economists like Milton Friedman were in favor of taxes on pollution and that

favor of taxes on pollution and that

favor of taxes on pollution and that logic easily extends to dealing with

logic easily extends to dealing with

logic easily extends to dealing with greenhouse gas emissions and there are

greenhouse gas emissions and there are

greenhouse gas emissions and there are conservatives prominent ones right now

conservatives prominent ones right now

conservatives prominent ones right now that support this view like former

that support this view like former

that support this view like former Reform Party Party leader Preston

Reform Party Party leader Preston

Reform Party Party leader Preston Manning and current conservative

Manning and current conservative

Manning and current conservative leadership candidate Michael Chong but

leadership candidate Michael Chong but

leadership candidate Michael Chong but instead climate change activists tend to

instead climate change activists tend to

instead climate change activists tend to preach to the choir they heighten the

preach to the choir they heighten the

preach to the choir they heighten the ideological divisions that exist on this

ideological divisions that exist on this

ideological divisions that exist on this issue

issue

issue labeling lots of people as anti science

labeling lots of people as anti science

labeling lots of people as anti science or ignorant and that’s a mistake

or ignorant and that’s a mistake

or ignorant and that’s a mistake we don’t overcome motivated reasoning we

we don’t overcome motivated reasoning we

we don’t overcome motivated reasoning we don’t overcome our bias by putting

don’t overcome our bias by putting

don’t overcome our bias by putting people on the ideological defensive we

people on the ideological defensive we

people on the ideological defensive we have to allow themselves to reconcile

have to allow themselves to reconcile

have to allow themselves to reconcile their values and beliefs with the advice

their values and beliefs with the advice

their values and beliefs with the advice of policy experts and scientists and

of policy experts and scientists and

of policy experts and scientists and that can only happen when we depolarize

that can only happen when we depolarize

that can only happen when we depolarize an issue we need to do a better job in

an issue we need to do a better job in

an issue we need to do a better job in improving our political discourse we

improving our political discourse we

improving our political discourse we can’t be complacent the politics that’s

can’t be complacent the politics that’s

can’t be complacent the politics that’s infecting the United States can come

infecting the United States can come

infecting the United States can come here if it hasn’t already with a little

here if it hasn’t already with a little

here if it hasn’t already with a little bit more humility we won’t be able to

bit more humility we won’t be able to

bit more humility we won’t be able to overcome our cognitive biases entirely

overcome our cognitive biases entirely

overcome our cognitive biases entirely but we can make our politics maybe a

but we can make our politics maybe a

but we can make our politics maybe a little bit more productive a little bit

little bit more productive a little bit

little bit more productive a little bit more civil and hopefully a little bit

more civil and hopefully a little bit

more civil and hopefully a little bit more factual

you

you [Applause]