Democrats Are About Ideas

"False beliefs are everywhere."

"We tend to remember news that accords with our worldview, and discount statements that contradict it."

"Psychologists have suggested that legends propagate by striking an emotional chord."

"Consumers of news, for their part, are prone to selectively accept and remember statements that reinforce beliefs they already hold."

"Researchers found that even when subjects were given a specific instruction to be objective, they were still inclined to reject evidence that disagreed with their beliefs."

"It pays for consumers of controversial news to take a moment and consider that the opposite interpretation may be true."

-- From Sam Wang and Sandra Aamodt's essay, "Your Brain Lies To You," in the New York Times.