Some factoids for today. Did you know,
1. S&P 500 operating earnings per share as of March 30, 2012 looks like this?
2. The Cleveland Fed reports, “In fact, despite the recovery’s frustratingly slow growth, exports have averaged 8 percent yearly growth since the beginning of 2010 and continue to reach record levels in terms of total nominal and real dollars. The ratio of exports to GDP has been growing at a far faster rate in the current recovery than in an average one.”
Growth in American exports as a percent of GDP looks like this?
Exports as a percent of American GDP looks like this?
3. Fox News IS the mainstream media … for the 50+ age group? We divided total number of viewers by the number of 18-49 demographic to create the Dementia Ratio.
Fox wins on August 29 during the RNC.
Fox wins again on September 5 during the DNC.
Resist Groupthink
If what you just saw is news to you, perhaps it is time to get reacquainted with the eight symptoms of Irving Janis’ groupthink:
- Illusion of invulnerability – Creates excessive optimism that encourages taking extreme risks.
- Collective rationalization – Members discount warnings and do not reconsider their assumptions.
- Belief in inherent morality – Members believe in the rightness of their cause and therefore ignore the ethical or moral consequences of their decisions.
- Stereotyped views of out-groups – Negative views of “enemy” make effective responses to conflict seem unnecessary.
- Direct pressure on dissenters – Members are under pressure not to express arguments against any of the group’s views.
- Self-censorship – Doubts and deviations from the perceived group consensus are not expressed.
- Illusion of unanimity – The majority view and judgments are assumed to be unanimous.
- Self-appointed ‘mindguards’ – Members protect the group and the leader from information that is problematic or contradictory to the group’s cohesiveness, view, and/or decisions.
It’s up to you.