Stupid Is as Stupid Does
Like most of you, I laughed when I learned of the Aliso Viejo City Council's desire to ban styrofoam cups due to the use of dihydrogen monoxide in their manufacture. The story was carried far and wide, from Alaska to Auckland.
However, I'm actually a bit troubled by City Manager David J. Norman's quote in the AP article:
Now, I realize that people have to delegate to get things done in a reasonable time period. But the paralegal certainly was not responsible for the City Council's ability to reason and study information. The fact that the whole council could be swayed by the contents of a single web site does not show good judgement, and should call into question the ability of this government body to weigh the merits of virtually anything placed before them. Where was the independent verification of the facts? If they did not know what dihydrogen monoxide was, why did they feel competent to ban its use?
The fact is, most people think they know a lot more than they do. And we all too frequently have uneducated/ignorant people making decisions on topics far outside their capabilities.
However, I'm actually a bit troubled by City Manager David J. Norman's quote in the AP article:
"It's embarrassing," said City Manager David J. Norman. "We had a paralegal who did bad research."
Now, I realize that people have to delegate to get things done in a reasonable time period. But the paralegal certainly was not responsible for the City Council's ability to reason and study information. The fact that the whole council could be swayed by the contents of a single web site does not show good judgement, and should call into question the ability of this government body to weigh the merits of virtually anything placed before them. Where was the independent verification of the facts? If they did not know what dihydrogen monoxide was, why did they feel competent to ban its use?
The fact is, most people think they know a lot more than they do. And we all too frequently have uneducated/ignorant people making decisions on topics far outside their capabilities.
