Cognitive dissonance

Mr. Boyd Ward defines himself as a “Yellowdog Democrat.” I looked that up, and from what I gleaned it means “a political term that was applied to voters in the Southern United States who voted solely for candidates who represented the Democratic Party.” So, no matter what the Democratic platform/ideology is, or what his personal convictions are, he is going to vote the Democratic ticket? I suppose that does make the whole voting thing easy for him. No thinking involved, just pull that blue lever and get on back to living life. And you know what? That is a choice he is free to make and I have not one problem with it.

I also looked up cognitive dissonance and found this definition: “a mental conflict that occurs when your beliefs don’t line up with your actions.” Now, let me ponder this a minute … three of my general, basic beliefs: I am pro-life, believe the definition of “marriage” is one man and one woman uniting in wedlock or matrimony, and that people are created male and female. I am not dogmatic, there is much to unpack and discuss, but these are just three basic personal tenets I subscribe to. So, after examining the ideologies of both platforms, it was clear the Republican ticket most closely aligned with my beliefs. Now, if I had voted for the Democratic ticket, my actions would not have lined up with my beliefs, and that would have been an example of cognitive dissonance.

Further, I will state for the 100th time that my Republican vote was not a vote to support Trump. There is a disconnect here, but it is Mr. Ward who is struggling to make his thoughts connect, not me. It would seem what he is suffering from is a mental conflict that occurs when other’s actions don’t line up with his beliefs. GREG STANFORD

White Hall