The Abilene Paradox (concept) §

Sources: §

• Mentioned in:
  • https://quillette.com/2018/07/02/political-moderates-are-lying/
  • Political Moderate are Lying in Quilette
• http://homepages.se.edu/cvonbergen/files/2013/01/The-Abilene-Paradox_The-Management-of-Agreement.htm_.pdf

Key Ideas §

Highlights §

• Why is any of this important? Well, if enough people falsify their preferences then many of us will begin to mistake polite but dishonest assent for the honest truth.

  • Fuck. This is damning

• As Americans, we collectively arrive at Abilene when we truly believe political polarization to be authentic. When moderates acquiesce to the beliefs of partisans, they signal to the opposition their ideological inflexibility and unwillingness to come together. It may even be the case that moderates on either side agree with another. But if no one speaks their mind, similarities are never discovered and compromises are never made.

• It’s about a false consensus