Flip-Flops Are For Your Feet...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/19/magazine/the-mind-of-a-flip-flopper.html

During the past year or so we have been watching our country get ready for the Presidential election, and one of the biggest issues we have seen is this notion of "flip-flopping". In the article they ask us to look at these two presidential candidates, not as candidates, but as two every day Americans. Social scientists explain that these men aren't flip-flopping as much that they are having an attitude change towards a social issue. The article discussed that certain social issues have helped to shape our identity as not only individuals but as a collective whole, "Certain beliefs are so important for a society or group that they become part of how you prove your identity...It’s as though we circle around these ideas. It’s how we become one". Flip-flopping only seems to be an issue, when we as individuals are unable to explain why our view has changed on a social issue. The research also found that when we "flip-flop" we try and convince ourselves that we haven't actually changed our views, this to me is almost crazy. Because, to me it shows that the mind is a very powerful tool and can have us believing anything that will appeal to our needs.

In the end it is up to the individual to make up their own mind on any issue that they are faced with, just because someone tells you something doesn't mean you need to believe what they are saying. There is nothing wrong with going out and doing your own research are social issues, and the views that certain individuals have. We have been given the right to think what we want, and because of this we should do a better job of doing our homework when it comes to making decisions, such as voting for our next president.