Today is Today is thethe day to… day to…

SEE THROUGH SEE THROUGH POLITICIANSPOLITICIANS

The source for this material The source for this material is…is…

25 Days to Better Thinking and Better 25 Days to Better Thinking and Better Living: Living: A Guide for Improving Every Aspect of Your A Guide for Improving Every Aspect of Your

Life,Life, by Dr. Linda Elder & Dr. Richard Paul, by Dr. Linda Elder & Dr. Richard Paul, Pearson, 2006; and the Center and Pearson, 2006; and the Center and Foundation for Critical Thinking, CA.Foundation for Critical Thinking, CA.

Notice the vested interestsNotice the vested interests

Of PoliticiansOf Politicians

very timely…very timely…

Given the content of many news Given the content of many news reports on the “eve” of elections, reports on the “eve” of elections,

and of the plethora of political adsand of the plethora of political ads

Think about distinguishing…Think about distinguishing…

PoliticiansPoliticians

……people who pursue people who pursue power to advance power to advance their vested intereststheir vested interests

StatesmenStatesmen

……people who people who genuinely seek genuinely seek what is in the public what is in the public interestsinterests

(Ibid)(Ibid)

““Statesmen are willing to…Statesmen are willing to…

State unpopular viewsState unpopular views

Stand up against powerful groupsStand up against powerful groups

Stand up against vested interests”Stand up against vested interests”

(Drs. Elder and Paul, Ibid)(Drs. Elder and Paul, Ibid)

Be on the lookout for Politicians:Be on the lookout for Politicians:

““Notice questionable statements that politicians Notice questionable statements that politicians make; make;

Look… Look… On the surface of what they say;On the surface of what they say;Below the surface of what they mean;Below the surface of what they mean;Determine what is in their vested interest;Determine what is in their vested interest;Figure out what they want you to believe, Figure out what they want you to believe,

and why.”and why.”

(Ibid)(Ibid)

Notice how often their… Notice how often their…

BehaviorBehavior supports supports their own interest their own interest while appearing to while appearing to serve the good of the serve the good of the people or country.people or country.

Their Their StatementsStatements oversimplify problems oversimplify problems to manipulate people.to manipulate people.

How often they assert How often they assert “truths” that contradict “truths” that contradict reality, which they reality, which they blatantly ignore.blatantly ignore.

Notice how often Notice how often people believe them people believe them nevertheless.nevertheless.

(Ibid)(Ibid)

““Don’t be Bamboozled by Don’t be Bamboozled by Politicians”Politicians”

-Dr. Linda Elder and Dr. Richard PaulDr. Linda Elder and Dr. Richard Paul

(Ibid)(Ibid)

““Politicians present themselves…Politicians present themselves…

as Statesmenas Statesmen……(and) they would have you believe that their actions are (and) they would have you believe that their actions are

determined by what best serves the people…that they are determined by what best serves the people…that they are deeply concerned about your welfare.”deeply concerned about your welfare.”

““Don’t buy it. Don’t buy it.

……read between the lines; realize that ‘Money is the mother’s read between the lines; realize that ‘Money is the mother’s milk of politics’...with big money protecting big money.”milk of politics’...with big money protecting big money.”

(Elder & Paul, Ibid)(Elder & Paul, Ibid)

Five Strategies for Seeing Through Five Strategies for Seeing Through Politicians:Politicians:

Our authors offer five strategies used by critical Our authors offer five strategies used by critical thinkers for developing skills in seeing through thinkers for developing skills in seeing through political maneuvers, for recognizing how politics political maneuvers, for recognizing how politics works, and avoiding being gullible when it comes works, and avoiding being gullible when it comes to believing political statements.to believing political statements.

For how not to be “bamboozled by politicians”, For how not to be “bamboozled by politicians”, see the “Strategies” on p.63.see the “Strategies” on p.63.

(Ibid)(Ibid)

Today is Today is thethe day to… day to…

SEE THROUGH SEE THROUGH POLITICIANSPOLITICIANS

““To be a chemist, you must study chemistry; to To be a chemist, you must study chemistry; to be a lawyer or physician, you must study law or be a lawyer or physician, you must study law or medicine; but to be a politician, you need only medicine; but to be a politician, you need only

to study your own interests.”to study your own interests.”

--Max O’RellMax O’Rell

DAILY REFLECTION NOTESDAILY REFLECTION NOTES Today I was successful in using the following ideas/strategies:Today I was successful in using the following ideas/strategies:

The key insights that emerged for me today were:The key insights that emerged for me today were:

One problem in my thinking that I now realize is:One problem in my thinking that I now realize is:

I plan to continue working on this problem using the following strategy:I plan to continue working on this problem using the following strategy: