Do you wonder if changes occurring in our society are pervasive across the country? Perhaps you find yourself questioning if you have become an outlier in the current society.
A well-known model, The Overton Window, expresses the understanding of how ideas in society change over time and influence politics. The core concept is that politicians are limited in what policy ideas they can support and generally only pursue policies that are widely accepted throughout society as legitimate policy options. Those policies lie inside the Overton Window.
The Overton Window doesn't describe everything about how politics works, but it does describe one key thing: politicians will not support whatever policy they choose whenever they choose. They will only espouse policies they believe do not hurt their electoral chances.
The range of policy options available to a politician is shaped by ideas, social movements, and shared norms and values within society. This implies that our social institutions (families, workplaces, friends, media, churches, voluntary associations, think tanks, schools, charities, and many other phenomena) establish and reinforce societal norms.
Is this true today?
The Overton Window can shift, increasing or shrinking the number of ideas supported by politicians without risk to electoral support. Mistakes (once fringe voices and ideas that have found footing in political parties and their platforms) and the tactic of introducing more extreme policy demands in an effort to shift a debate left or right all are factors in the shift of the “Overton Window.”
The term “gaslighting” is a frequently used term described by psychologists as a specific type of manipulation where the manipulator is trying to get someone else (or a group of people) to question their own reality, memory, or perceptions. Simply stated, lying or misusing data and facts to distort the truth.
Finally, we come to the “changing of definitions.” Look no further than the current efforts to redefine the indicators of a recession, the definition of gender, man, woman, birthing person, or the denial that only a woman can give birth to a child.
Does the current Overton Window reflect what society believes or is it distorted by inaccurate or deceptive information? Where do you stand?
We are at a critical point in time. The wisdom of President Lincoln reminds us to stand firm for our Republic.
“Our safety, our liberty, depends upon preserving the Constitution of the United States as our fathers made it inviolate. The people of the United States are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution. The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate for the storm present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, we must think anew and act new. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.”
I invite you to be a part of the Convention of States movement. We are growing a grassroots army large enough to call the first-ever Article V Convention of the States. Sign the petition here.
Learn about Convention of the States. Share what you have learned with others and if you have the time -- volunteer. There are many small and big ways to be engaged.
This is for freedom, for how we live our lives while on this earth. This is for our children, our grandchildren, and generations to come.
Our Republic is the greatest country in the world. Learn more here.
