Jinesh,

Thank you, and please call me Rob.
: )

"...there has been this trend noted lately, people following a political party without legit reasons..."

First, we must be careful that we don't become part of the problem. Pride affects you and me every single day, and it crouches at the door waiting for an opportunity. Just when we think we've got a handle on our pride, circumstances conspire to humiliate us, especially as investors.

So I am careful to say that any person follows a political party without legitimate reasons. What about you and me? Are my reasons legitimate? Are yours? Says who?

This becomes a metaphysical conversation very quickly, and well suited for an August afternoon over ice tea in the shade. For now, on a damp March evening in Covid-ravaged New Jersey, we'll have to settle for an online conversation in the comments section at The Enterprising Investor (with a tip of the hat to the good folks who run this forum).

You also wrote:

"To wake them from their daydreaming sleep..." This assumes that WE are the ones who are awake, and not part of the unwashed, unenlightened masses. Who separates people who are "awake" from those who are "asleep"? Another conversation for a lazy afternoon...

Nevertheless, you DO make a good point: How can we persuade other people to listen when they have strong ideological views? I am aware of only successful tactic when politics puts blinders on the eyes and earplugs in the ears, and the solution is rather unpalatable: We pretend to agree with the extremist, and we take the views even one step further to illustrate them the dangerous results of their fanatical position.

******************

Ooops.

I began to type an example, and then I crossed it out. Then I tried again and I crossed out that example, too.

This is probably an offline conversation since I can't think of a clear, concrete example that is suitable for publication on the CFA's Enterprising Investor website. I'm not that smart.

: 0

Rob