There are many so-called “fallacies of reasoning” that infest and corrupt potential honest, rational, logical discourse.
I want to focus on the “Sunk Cost Fallacy.” Some may call it the appeal to tradition fallacy but either way, it is alive and well here in late 2025. It is being used and has been used for the last several election cycles. Every two years we the people are asked to vote for congressional and/or executive candidates. How one chooses who to support is a very important matter. In less than a year, a mid-term election is due.
There is clearly a lack of logical reasoning amongst the electorate. How else can our current state of chaotic, authoritarian governance be rationally explained? Unless We the People actually do not want health care as a human right, or do not want public education to be easily affordable, or are not concerned about climate change or the cost of living, or are OK with racist, xenophobic, sexist public policies. Who voted for a government that supports genocides, and that takes away social safety net programs and the rest of the rot?
At this point some readers might conclude I’m alluding to the Republican Party as the problem, along with those who vote Red. Well, of course our current dreadful administration is clearly not interested in the rule of law or following our Constitution. It’s the GOP that did it! But that conclusion is faulty. Remember, we have Red and Blue political parties. GOP or DNC. How has the “opposition party” known as the Democrats not been able to prevent this radical political reality from gaining power? The Democrats are apparently not very good at appealing to a large majority of people who do want health care, education, climate action, an end to tax dollars supporting militarism, racism, sexism and the billionaire class. They are a very weak opposing party.
Our two-party system generated this dystopia. Logic should now dictate we need more than Red or Blue. Trying to convince the general public to support a third-party, however, is likely to be met with “you’re wasting your vote.” Election after election the vast majority of the electorate still believes in this Duopoly. To keep supporting this either-or lockstep of Red or Blue is the Sunk Cost Fallacy writ large. Rather than think critically about how the Duopoly has failed this country, foolishly the majority of voters will double down on the status quo. Sunk Cost Fallacy: keep investing in either-or because too much has been invested in it already. Rinse and repeat.
We need more and better choices. Demand it. To stick with Red or Blue thinking, hoping the outcome will be different this time is magical thinking. I prefer critical thinking. We all should.
Joe Harrington
Oak Park
