Watching makes it easier for the public to think of examples of the events the media covers. Nuclear power 2. Columbine G. It is easy to combine this with my rational irrationality approach. Mass hysterias provoke strong political responses but weak personal responses because the price of irrationality is lower in the former case. Protectionism A. Public choice economists have typically seen protectionism as a product of special interests taking advantage of the public's rational ignorance.
Politicians offer protectionist policies to get their votes.
Answering Wittman, II A. To my mind, rational irrationality is the second key pillar of a thoughtful answer to Wittman. Plausible in theory 2. In markets, ignorant actors do their best with what they know. In politics, they scarcely try. Voters like candidates who share their confusions, not pedants who lecture them.