I referred to the Iraq debacle while teaching my class today.

[Redleg]

We were discussing some of the cognitive processes that influence (and hinder) effective decision-making and I used the Iraq situation as an example to illustrate several important points.

I could feel myself getting carried away with criticizing Bush so I decided to hold fire. I didn't want to reveal my extreme dislike for Bush to my students. After all, I have to worry about getting slammed on the professor evaluations. Perhaps I exercised good judgment.

Anyway, Bush's decision-making process re: Iraq can provide many examples of piss-poor decision-making.

[LuLu550]

1. you don't cross the line

when you inform the kids how their perceptions are being manipulated. Just make sure those who pay you don't think you are trying to brainwash the impressionable ones.

[Redleg]

3. One problem with many conservative students is that

they don't objectively see the content of what you are covering- they are concerned only that their hero, Gee Dubya, is being held up for ridicule.

The good thing is that I am discussing decision-making as an important part of the course and not as something I added just to slam Bush.

On edit: Okay, maybe I don't really know how "many conservative students" think but I suspect some of them are intolerant of criticism of Bush since so many conservative writers and politicians are.

[BurtWorm]

2. How conservative is the student body?

Did you sense discomfort among your students?

[Redleg]

4. The area around here is very conservative...

I know I have some College Republicans in my classes. Most of the people around here support the war in Iraq so I have to be careful. It just seemed like such a relevant example of perceptual defenses, cognitive distortion, escalation of commitment, and others.

[BurtWorm]

5. Did you read Sy Hersh's latest in the New Yorker?

Plenty of material there for your class to chew on. The Bushists are groupthinkers and yes men extraordinaire.

[Redleg]

6. Yes, we will get into group decision making next week.

There is plenty of fodder for my class.