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Favorite ways of avoiding problems:

• It is not any worse than some other year, therefore no big deal.
• There has been a tiny improvement; we should be satisfied, even if overall rates are horrible.
• The problem is boring, therefore not important.
• Assign blame and do nothing. The mere act of blaming brings relief.
• Find a scapegoat and keep pounding the scapegoat so that citizens will not attack you for lack of standards and actions.
• If we ridicule incompetents who face the problem, we don't have to do anything about the problem.
• Citizens can't be expected to understand it, therefore no problem.
• Discussing adequate solutions will offend, therefore no problem.
• Attack the motives of those who face the problem.
• Others avoid the problem, too.
• We have had so many wrongs. Another wrong is no big deal.
• Better solutions are painful, distasteful or unenjoyable, therefore no problem.
• Facing it is risky.
• Someone claims a right or a religious belief, therefore there is nothing we can or should do.
• If you avoid brainstorming and researching solutions, you avoid unpleasant solutions.
• If you avoid brainstorming and researching problems, you avoid unpleasant problems.
• The problem has a low probability, therefore no problem, even when the consequences are terrible.
• Most people don't have the problem, therefore no problem, even when the consequences to those who do have it are disastrous.
• If you believe the problem is caused by factors that are difficult to touch, then the actions to fix it must be too difficult, too.
• Distort the position of anyone who faces the problem.
• Almost no one is facing the problem, therefore no problem.
• The problem gets only slightly worse each year, therefore no problem, no matter the overall consequences of the problem.
• Problem analysis is for anal types.
• Not subscribing to official myths is offensive. I don't want to be shunned. The official myths are better because they are simpler and make me feel good.
• No perfect solution, therefore no best available solution.
• The people facing the problem are sheep.
• My idols wouldn't care or would oppose me on this.
• Talk is action.
• The image of being a problem solver is the same as being a problem solver.
• Solving problems is old think or linear thinking.
• Solving problems stifles creativity rather than cultivates it.
• Hitler, Stalin and Idi Amin tried to solve problems. Solving problems is evil.
• I'm just is deterministic cog in the universe.
• Partial success is not worth it.
• A persuasive argument not to face it is the same as a strong argument not to face it.
• Whatever I do will be less than a drop in the bucket. I'm nothing compared to others. I am one. You do it.
• I didn't cause the problem; therefore I'm not obligated to help fix it.
• The tragic view of life is superior. An all-knowing empathy and world-weariness is admirable.
• Too risky.
• Good motives are enough.
• I work hard enough as it is.
• If we lower our standards, there is no problem.
• Good motives and half-assed efforts are enough.
• I have no strong feeling about that, therefore no problem.
• The problem creates feelings in me that I don't like, therefore no problem.
• Rocking the boat makes others hate me.
• It improved seemingly on it's own, it will improve the rest of the way on it's own.
• The possibility of unintended consequences is reason to do nothing.
• High problem solving standards are dispiriting, unenjoyable.
• Solving the problem means I will have to play a role and playing a role exposes me to the possibility of failure, humiliation, or degradation.
• The person who does the least usually gets blamed the least.
• I could be labeled intolerant.
• Playing a role is conforming and a crime against the real me.
• I'm to blame, therefore incompetent, and therefore incapable of acting.
• All is vanity.
• My only choice is...
• Any charitable effort is a good effort.
• I could fail and be humiliated.
• The popular media don't think there is a problem.
• The popular media solution must be the right solution.
• The right solution has no chance today, therefore it will never have a chance.
• I could get sued.
• We will always have problems among us. There will be other problems when we get done.
• Solving problems is not a spiritual calling.
• It's easier to be a parasite and latch onto the efforts of other problem solvers.
• Facing problems causes anxiety.
• Time solves problems. Problems go away on by themselves.
• My circumstances are terrible. I can't be expected to solve problems.

—J.T. Fournier

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