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Can a Math Model Explain Our Chaos
Sounds simple.
You have probably at least heard of the 20-60-20 Model.
Variants of the concept are found in disciplines such as mathematics, management consulting, public speaking, among many others. My mere mention of it may validate my status as a bit of an analytics geek, but please bear with me as this is not going to be all about math.
My informal version of the model proposes that you can break down people according to their beliefs and approach to society as:
* 20% Extreme Left
* 20% Extreme Right
* 60% Somewhere in the Middle
The precise dividing lines for the groupings are not the significant point.
The Extreme Left and Extreme Right, although on opposite sides of the thought spectrum, are quite similar in many ways. Both groups consist almost solely of others who are like them in thought. They may rely on different sources telling two completely different stories of the world for their daily news and information, but the commonality is that their source of choice is one that is reinforcing their worldview.
Here we find viewers of mainstream media (MSM), whether it be Fox News, CNN, MSN, one of the networks, or one of the many other echo chambers available to us. They read a little on the internet, claim to be experts on everything, and think they have an inside truth on what is really going on.
They are either fully convinced of the genuineness of the information…
