Disastrous Decisions

Jared Diamond's article, “Why Do Some Societies Make Disastrous Decisions,” he explains why some societies dig themselves in a hole by making bad decisions. The basis for his argument includes these three reasons: failure to anticipate the problem, failure to perceive the problem and failure in attempting to solve the problem. I agree with his hypothesis that people's culture and background affect their decision making process in groups. His examples are very specific and all relate back to his three reasons. Not only is this essay easy to read, but it also applies to my daily life because just like the majority of people in the world, I'm guilty of neglecting to care about the environmental problems that we face. Diamond's overall message is to be prepared for the problem before it arises. Once the problem occurs, it needs to be dealt with right away rather than people shrugging it off and not taking responsibility for their actions.