How Confirmation Bias Locks People Into a Political Bias Bubble
Republicans and Democrats share one thing in common: They often believe a slanted media simply because it is slanted their way.
“Your assignment was to watch the presidential debate and write two papers. Each paper was to cover the facts without exaggeration, but one paper was to be slanted toward the Democrat nominee and the other slanted toward the Republican.”
The year is 1992 and the debate is between Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush. As we wait for class to begin, we marvel among ourselves at just how far apart our papers were and how easy it was to slant them one way or another simply by omitting facts or taking quotes out of context. We’re all in our early twenties, and for most of us, this will be the first time we vote in a Presidential election.
Me? I’m not planning on voting for either. My vote will be cast for the Independent, Ross Perot. Not because I think he would make a good (or at least, better) president. No. If I thought he had a shot at actually winning the presidency, my vote would definitely go elsewhere. I’m simply that bright-eyed non-conformist who is voting “against the system.”