One of the first reactions as the infomercial runs on is that it sounds too good to be true. For some reason we humans are a naturally skeptical bunch. Often times we refuse to take outlandish claims at face value and look beyond the marketing for a scam. I say often times because there is one area that is curiously exempt from this natural distrust for the unknown: politics. Such an exemption may be an evolutionary phenomenon. Nevertheless, it is a curious social mutation.

To illustrate my point let’s try a simple thought experiment. One day we cross paths at a local market. Let’s imagine you have a child with you. For whatever reason we begin a casual conversation and as we become further acquainted I ask if I could watch your child tomorrow while you work. Immediately you become disturbed by such an odd request and alarms go off in your head. The moment is uncomfortable, threatening, and all you can think of is escaping. “I’ll feed him, and give him healthcare, and pay you for the privilege.” No matter what I offer, a sensible parent would scream, possibly taser me and run! This reaction is a healthy, natural response in defense of your offspring.

Enter the political arena. Here, hopeful incumbents make similar requests, only instead of your child they ask for your liberty, your property, and your loved ones future. In exchange for your vote, you will be granted goodies beyond your wildest imagination. Rather than alarms sounding as they did during our little experiment, or the suspicions running through our minds while watching the infomercial, the opposite occurs. We embrace the politician with open arms. We invite them into our homes. We give them free access to our income and other private information. We urge them to decide for us how to use our bodies, who we can marry, what we can eat, and how we can travel. All of these important responsibilities are very personal items that we would never otherwise dream of entrusting a complete stranger with. But for whatever reason, we abandon our natural defensive tendencies when election season arrives.

I wonder how long nature will endure such willful stupidity.