Columns, Opinion

Editor’s Column: A little cognitive dissonance goes a very long way

I hear a sound in the ether. It’s kind of a cross between fingernails scraped across a chalkboard and the “I’m trying to blow up

Niki Turner
my engine” wail of my neighbor’s pickup truck.
What is it? I think it’s a pandemic of cognitive dissonance.
Cognitive dissonance is defined as “the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change.” In other words, you’re saying one thing, and doing another. I’m guilty, you probably are, too.
I started thinking about it when I learned Congress has opted not to renew funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHP and CHP+ in Colorado). The program, which started in 1999 (pre-ACA) subsidizes health care for children and pregnant women who can’t afford private insurance but make too much money to qualify for Medicaid.
In other words, these are families who have jobs, they just can’t afford insurance. The program enables children from birth to 18 to get regular check-ups, vaccinations, and treatment for injuries and illnesses. It also provides pregnant women with prenatal care so they and their babies have a better chance of surviving birth. (America has one of the worst rates of neonatal and maternal death in the developed world. It’s statistically safer to give birth in Libya than it is in America.)
And yet, this is an administration that wildly waves the pro-life, pro-family values flag over its party platform. Are we only pro-life and pro-family when the life is still in the womb and the family is financially solvent and has employer-provided health insurance? Am I the only one who can’t quite wrap my head around how that works?
My frustration with this flurry of cognitive dissonance expanded during a meeting in which a passionate political conservative wanted to approve a Big Brother-esque policy to micromanage the personal behavior of employees and staff (lest someone act in an unprofessional manner).
I thought we just fired people who acted unprofessionally on the job. Oh, wait, apparently that’s changed, too. We’ve got people in some of our highest offices who have absolutely no clue what it means to act like a professional, but that’s not the point. The point is government overreach is government overreach whether it’s a Democrat or a Republican or a Communist doing the reaching.

Speaking of professionalism (which is basically common courtesy, right?), being in the writing industry is interesting. People often stop and ask for “help with my book” or “can you edit this for me, for free?” Usually I don’t mind lending a hand, but the way someone asks makes all the difference.
This week a former acquaintance emailed me seeking help pursuing a writing job. Her message opened with multiple grammatical errors, including misspelling my name. She went on to point out how happy she was to get away from the “libtards” on the coast where she’s been living. And then she assumed I would be in perfect agreement with her based on a limited acquaintance we had more than 20 years ago.
Now, if you want to get my hackles up, misuse the word “your” in any of its varied forms. Then start name-calling, using imaginary words like a third grader. “Dummyhead!” Seriously, if you just can’t help yourself and have to call someone a name, at least find a real word to use. Dotard comes to mind. So does cretin. Google “Shakespearian insults,” the Bard was a master at creating thought-provoking insults. For example: “More of your conversation would infect my brain.” or “You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian!” You get extra points if the person can’t tell you’re insulting them and doesn’t know whether to smile and say thank you or get mad.

I got my flu shot on Tuesday. It was probably the worst day of the week to do so, but I knew if I waited I’d keep procrastinating. I had an interesting reaction this time in addition to my sore arm: dizziness, racing heart, and generally feeling like I’d overdosed on caffeine. Not fun. And don’t ever Google your symptoms. Ever.
Bad as I felt yesterday, I’d still rather have the side effects than have the flu ever again. Real influenza is far worse than the nasty chest colds that go around every year.
I’m not going to tell everyone to get a flu shot. That’s a personal choice. Some people have religious reasons for avoiding vaccinations, some have valid physical reasons, others have heard inaccurate information and believe it. That’s fine. You’re free to make that decision for yourself. But at the same time, if you aren’t going to get a flu shot, and you do get the flu (or any other nasty germy thing), do everyone a favor: become a frequent hand washer, stay home if at all possible and if you’re sick and you must go out, be considerate of others and wear a mask. Yes, you’ll feel silly, but you might be a superhero to someone for whom that germ you’re enduring would be a death sentence.

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  • Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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