We listen, only when it is something we want to hear, and agree with

P

eople only ever hear what they want to hear, even if it is wrong.

We all live in echo chambers and so hear largely only our own thoughts bouncing back from the news sources we access, the people we pay attention to and those we socialise with.

And so the latest move from the Republicans in the U.S. will win wide support as it simply reinforces the view that so many people hold; views that are founded on both inadequate and incomplete information.

For decades now environmentalist in the U.S. and elsewhere have challenged decisions to protect what they value, but at the same time threaten the status quo and so disturb the lives of many.

Rain clearly results from changes in the climate and as human activity has impacted on the world’s climate system causing rain to fall with vigour, and excessively in some places and yet result in drought in others.

As the actions of environmentalists has stopped the creation of dams in some parts of California for good ecological reasons, the Republicans blame the state’s present drought on the actions of environmentalists, ignoring the fact that because of a disrupted climate system, rainfall has been way below average.

Undeterred by scientific fact, ClimateProgress reports that, “Republicans Introduce Bill Based OnThe Idea That Environmentalists Caused California’s Drought”.