Magical Thinking is Worse Than Toxic Politics

Recently, a Florida resident told me their state did better with Covid because Floridians are “over it.” Wow, and good for them. The comment prompted me to check the New York Times map of Covid statistics, expecting to see low numbers for Florida. While not the worst — Kentucky seems to have that title for now — Florida is not the best. The state appears to have large spikes between almost nothing, which probably has more to do with DeSantis’ dishonest reporting than cases. Florida’s senior citizen population was severely hit. It also has one of the highest death rates. So, it appears that Florida’s being “over it” has more to do with focus, or lack thereof, than on being done with Covid. “Over” vs. “Done.” Basing policy on over instead of done or not done is magical thinking.

The same person told me that climate change is not a concern in Florida either and pointed to the recent floods in California. The EPA disagrees. This person meant that none of the 2022 hurricane season storms affected them personally. Still, I remember this person complaining of being exhausted after hanging hurricane shutters over their windows last summer and looking into cold night shelters this past December. It turns out that California has the highest natural disaster risk, with Texas in second place and Florida third. Translating high-risk 3d place into no or low-risk is magical thinking.

Another person I know is looking for a new job at 63 years old, the current boss having told them that dismissal is imminent — from a company that begged them to join only last year. They’ve decided that lack of success has nothing to do with the company, its HR and management practices, ageism, or economic problems in their industry or general. Success will come from chanting Om and visualizing career success. If you read my posts regularly, you know my opinion on that. See here. It might make them feel better and maybe a little more focused, but it’s not going to get them a job, and they’ll blame themselves when they don’t. They must not have wanted or visualized it enough — magical thinking.

Another person I worked with often told us that some pretty minor stuff “triggered” them, which was supposed to make us take on their workload. I’m not talking about commonly recognized triggers like rape, being a soldier in a war, or the death of a loved one, but their car was in the shop.

I’m seeing more magical thinking in center-left politics than ever before:

R̶o̶b̶e̶r̶t̶ M̶u̶e̶l̶l̶e̶r̶ Jack Smith is a fantastical hero who will bring Trump to Justice.

The January 6 Committee criminal referrals matter.

A few disparaging words in social media “destroyed” or “annihilated” [insert name of Republican politician here]. When I see articles titled “So and So was destroyed on Twitter” or similar, I shake my head. Open any of those links to discover how little it mattered.

Explaining the difference between Trump’s and Biden’s documents scandals will matter.

The rift among House Republicans will stop them.

R̶o̶e̶ ̶v̶ ̶W̶a̶d̶e̶ Social Security and Medicare will never be overturned.

Republican voters are turned off enough to bring them to the Democratic Party, and the Republican Party and Fox News have turned on Donald Trump.

It’s unlikely any of the above have or will be significant.

Democrats will call Republicans' bluff on spending cuts.

Right-wing politics is all magical thinking: Covid’s over, climate change is a hoax, Nazis were socialists (I asked one Nazis Were Socialists claimant to explain 3 socialist Nazi programs, and I’m still waiting), abortion is about babies, guns aren’t dangerous, Trump had nothing to do with Russia, they have a personal relationship with Jesus or God, tax cuts for the rich improve the economy, deregulation is good for anybody, civility is bad, the Republican party is going to terminate the FBI, Elon Musk is a genius inventor, and the biggie — they are not racist.

The economy is full of magical thinking: crypto is currency, a 15% corporate tax rate is socialism, socialism is communism and communism exists, virtual doctors appointments and online test results replace health care, the market stops monopolization or price fixing, people who incite your crazy fascist uncle about world government or a global economy aren’t the main people involved in both, IRAs were a good substitute for pensions, corporations invent things, men deserve or need higher pay than women.

Magical thinking often displays privileged thinking. It’s easy to ignore something if you’re otherwise protected, like the person who can work from home as opposed to the essential worker who has to meet and greet maskless Covid carriers or the person who has a concierge physician or the person whose 5th house in Florida may be at risk but with multiple homes they’re not worried about being homeless.

A person may grab onto magical thinking to combat anxiety. They can’t deal with the reality of the situation, so they choose to ignore it or overblow the possible but unlikely positive spin. Years ago, I knew a person who said they preferred being in a no-choice situation so they didn’t have to think about it. It's a great way to be ill-used or blindsided, but at least you don't have to study, think and choose.

The media and political parties push magical thinking. The media prefers everyone to believe it’s all business as usual. Corporations generally want customers and shareholders to presume stability or concentrate on future good fortune — that’s what pump and dump is all about. The political parties want their supporters to think they’re winning.

The problem I have with all this magical thinking is that while we’re presuming the best and ignoring the worst, no one is issue-spotting genuine problems or coming up with solutions. We shouldn’t anthropomorphize stuff that isn’t sentient: little Covid viruses and giant hurricanes don’t care if we decide they’re over. Medical care is only as good as we can afford, which mostly makes it not good. One article in a partisan publication or on social media with some mildly strong language does not stop Republicans from pursuing their agenda — no one has been destroyed when the headline says they’ve been destroyed. You may temporarily increase your focus through meditation and visualization, but it will not get you a job or generate wealth. No one is rescued by focusing only on the intended outcome without considering all the likely possibilities and actionable strategies. There’s money. There’s privilege. There’s talent and work. There’s luck. There’s no magic.