Holmdel Overcome cognitive dissonance and vote with a clear mind

Cognitive Dissonance:

In the field of psychology, cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values. This discomfort is triggered by a situation in which a person's belief clashes with new evidence perceived by the person. Wikipedia

It is human nature to simplify life’s complexities by compartmentalizing and selectively relinquishing governance to established experts/authority for some of these compartments like accountants, lawyers, doctors, financial advisors, and yes elected officials too.

In the political realm, we pick a party that conforms most to our ideological preferences, vote accordingly and move on with living our lives in the hope that the elected officials will perform as promised. Furthermore in small communities, it is very common to run into local politicians or their family members or their close friends, such proximity very naturally, strengthens feelings of connectivity and trust.

So when facts of abuse of trust surface, we experience an overwhelming urge to not believe or jump through mental gymnastics to explain away the facts. What we are then going through is cognitive dissonance. I implore you, dear Holmdel voter, to overcome this urge to explain away these embarrassing facts. With an open mind just read about the goings on at Township Committee, do not succumb to cognitive dissonance and your own conscience will prevent you from voting for the incumbent.

If not the incumbent, who? I strongly urge you to consider Cathy Weber and Prakash Santhana ( https://webersanthana.org ). They are independents who are concerned about our town, have an exemplary record of career accomplishments, have a history of township contributions and have no grandiose political ambitions. Holmdel would be lucky to have Cathy and Prakash help mind the store at the Township Committee!

Comedian Richard Pryor in one of his routines spoke of a husband caught in an act of infidelity by his wife, the guilty husband exclaims “Who are you going to believe? Me or your lying eyes?”. The husband is hoping that cognitive dissonance will work for him. Dear voter, let a clear mind not cognitive dissonance guide you in your voting decision.

Pradeep Jhanjee

Holmdel Resident