America's Cognitive Dissonance Cognitive Dissonance (CD) is defined as the ability to hold contradictory beliefs, ideas or values. In short, CD is "to have one's cake and eat it, too." American politicians, editors and pundits of all shades of persuasions and on both the right and the left of the political spectrum are totally against foreign intervention in American elections - Naturally! Yet the above same individuals are comfortable and totally nonchalant about our interference in BREXIT - an issue that may affect the very existence of the UK, and its political and economic relations with the European Union (EU). Our president and ambassador to UK have openly cajoled British politicians and threatened the UK with canceled trade deals depending on how and for whom they vote on BREXIT and in European parliamentary elections. This week, with our president visiting Europe, we see an acute exacerbation of our CD. The Europeans are confused and bemused by the hue-and-cry of Americans when we protest "foreign interference" in our elections, while we flagrantly (overtly and covertly) intervene in their elections, including election in the Ukraine and perhaps even in Russia. Our State Department, academic and foreign policy think-tanks, and prominent politicians issue "protest notes and threats" with a wink-and-a-nod, more as a sop for domestic consumption and to satisfy their voting base. Presidential candidate Trump said it best and pointedly on several issues, "And we do the same."
Regards, GL
