Does reality have a left-wing bias?

@Burnley123 When I was in school, economics was broken up into both a liberal arts curriculum and a scientific one based around statistics. One mainly dealt with policy and theory, while the other dealt more with data collection, modelling, and regression analysis.

I dabbled in both, but ultimately got the degree in liberal arts. But you're right on that last point. A lot of economists can't help but design their models and data collection methods around an ideology, and so the results they get tend to reflect their biases.

@TinyViolins
That is true. I'd take it even further and say that economists need to be humble and see the bigger picture. All conventional economists missed the 2007/08 financial crash because their models did not take account of 'systemic risk'.

The data they were basing their predictions on did not take into account the whole picture and were based on the (ideological but not knowingly ideological) assumptions of constant growth. Their models were based on a belief that their information was perfect, which it wasn't.

The Post-Keynesians had the theory of economic cycles that was historical and effectively factored in mass psychology too. They were right but I also think it is true that human society is too complex for a perfect model. Empiricism and data absolutely have their place but economists need to know that there are too many variables (inc some always hidden) for their discipline to be like natural science.

@Burnley123 Yeah, I'm right there with you.

@MartinII I sincerely hope that you're right. This movement, to put it generously, threatens everything good about America.

@MartinII It depends on what you mean. The story of the 80s, 90s and 00s was that the right won the war on economics but the left won the war on culture.

@Burnley123 Yes, good point.

@bijouxbroussard SW is great at further entrenching this view in me. 😂

@SunshineGirl Cultural identity means nothing to me and I would say my approach is honest

In terms of pragmatism, I've seen plenty of centrist liberals lack it and have their own sacred cows. I'm thinking especially of the People's Vote campaign. It was angry, unwilling to compromise and did not have a realistic strategy for overturning Brexit. A lot of these people were guilty of the same behaviours that they accuse the left of. It's always different when it's your own sacred cow.

For me, it's about behaviour more than it's about ideology. That sone centrists to think they have a monopoly on pragmatism is a belief loaded with ideological assumptions.

You have to engage with people where they are, not where you think they should be. 'Winning' arguments by virtue signaling is at best a waste of time. And yes, many on the left get this wrong too.

@SW-User @Burnley123 I am fully convinced that true center is what our friends on the right call left.

@LordShadowfire The true centre of public opinion is generally left of where politicians and media consider it to be. The right also points to anyone not them as extreme (to psychologically project their own extremism).

Having said that, I am to the left, whichever way you cut it.

@LordShadowfire I mean the political scale is a very abstract and broad attempt of meassuring political allignment but I do think you make a point there.
In the end politics is just a response to our environment and the question is who is closer to recognizing structures, problems and solutions in society.

@Burnley123 Ironically, coolness as a modern aesthetic originated with oppressed blacks in America.

@Fukfacewillie Now its found its true home in white middle-aged centrist dads.

@Burnley123 Cargo shorts make the man...