Voters’ ‘moral flexibility’ helps them defend politicians’ misinformation − if they believe the inaccurate info speaks to a larger truth
theconversation.com
In a series of surveys, researchers studied when and why voters put up with inaccurate statements from their leaders.

Many voters are willing to accept misinformation from political leaders – even when they know it’s factually inaccurate. According to our research, voters often recognize when their parties’ claims are not based on objective evidence. Yet they still respond positively, if they believe these inaccurate statements evoke a deeper, more important “truth.”

  • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
    63·
    1 month ago

    Let me frame this like so:

    It’s just another example of capitalist for-profit corporations that maximize profits while offloading their negative externalities onto the rest of us.

    They know they’re making money when they tell lies and they don’t care about the downstream effects. For some the downstream effects might even be desirable.

    Another way to frame it is: corporate media makes money, with informing (or disinforming) the public as a byproduct.