Conventional wisdom for America

Just how conventional thinking are we Americans?

Years ago a Scientific American article suggested a group of jurors was as astute as a group of psychiatrists about judging the mental state of the accused. Recently another similar article in Aviation Week suggested that a group of Americans was just as astute as self-declared pundits and experts about the state of technical affairs in America. Most Americans today inherently recognize following their informed instinct is a comfortable way to think and talk and vote.

Most recognize conventional wisdom when they see and smell it. Preseason and even during-season sports rankings are one obvious example. Pundit opinions about the political status quo almost always assume the status quo will continue for a long time. Pundit and expert opinions about elections are much the same. Farmers will certainly add in the weather as a subject. A common thread is the enormous amount of information, facts as well as opinions, that is beyond the ability of humans to digest. And don’t automatically knock the pundits and experts who pontificate, as they have to make a living, also.

The rub many Americans feel is almost emotional in nature. It is somehow demeaning and somewhat insulting to be thought of as conventional thinking in nature. Those leaders and hired managers, and those who report on all them and then apply conventional wisdom, are too often fooled by Americans who perhaps are not as conventional thinking as thought.

Of course one can put the shoe on the other foot, so to speak. Perhaps it is the leaders and hired managers who are conventional thinking and more out of touch than they know.

In either case, change is always coming. Sometimes change is faster at one time than other times. And seldom is there a speed limit on change.