The first step is realizing that there is a problem

[ck4829]

System justification theory (SJT) is a theory within social psychology that proposes people have a motivation to defend and justify the status quo, even when it may be disadvantageous to certain people. People have a psychological need to maintain stability and order in their lives. As such, they are motivated to see the status quo (or prevailing social, economic, and political norms) as good, legitimate, and desirable.

According to system justification theory, people not only want to hold favorable attitudes about themselves (ego-justification) and their own groups (group-justification), but they also want to hold favorable attitudes about the overarching social order (system-justification). In certain instances, system-justification motives override the other two motives, and result in outgroup favoritism and acceptance of inferiority among groups low in status (i.e. groups low on the social, political, and economic hierarchies). Consequences of this theory is that existing social, economic, and political arrangements tend to be preferred, alternatives to the status quo are disparaged, and inequality may be indirectly perpetuated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_justification

You could almost say this is happening at an epidemic level.

[grasswire]

1. makes sense, thanks.

Kick.

[liberal_at_heart]

2. Maybe that is why so many defend democrats when they uphold republican policy.

Eventually we will all hurt bad enough that we will all want change. History has taught us this. Rich people hoard the money. People starve to death. Because people are already dying from starvation and disease they finally have nothing left to lose so they begin to fight back.

[RobertEarl]

3. Epidemic level, nails it

Even on DU we have people that are in mass denial.

Reminds me of what Rachel Carson went through when she told the world that certain chemicals in the environment would have adverse effects.

[cthulu2016]

4. We are alive. We know being dead is an option. We thus fear change.

[cinnabonbon]

5. I didn't know that was the term for it.

Thanks.