Science behind decision-making: From vaccines to Afghanistan
There’s a constant tug-of-war between fact and fiction that’s oftentimes keeping the exchange of ideas in a stranglehold. From debates over vaccines to the blame game erupting over Afghanistan, it turns out there’s a studied science behind decision-making. Attorney and sociology professor Nika Kabiri explains how ideas – not facts – are more effective when trying to dissuade people from doubling down. The Afghanistan war cost Americans nearly $2 trillion on top of thousands of lives lost. While pundits scramble to make sense of what was ultimately gained, we tally the major expenses accrued over the past 20 years. And modern retail is growing increasingly reliant on hidden fees. From hotel surcharges to processing fees, attorney and professor Steven Weisman explains how sellers in every industry use ‘drip pricing’ to tighten the squeeze on consumers. Plus, in the wake of the calamitous Afghanistan exit, former RI governor Lincoln Chafee’s criticism of unauthorized military operations still rings true. He was the only Senate Republican to vote against the Iraq War.