A classical example of this idea (and the origin of the expression "sour grapes") is expressed in the fable The Fox and the Grapes by Aesop (ca. 620-564 BCE). In the story, a fox sees some high-hanging grapes and wishes to eat them. When the fox is unable to think of a way to reach them, he surmises that the grapes are probably not worth eating, as they must not be ripe or that they are sour. This example follows a pattern: one desires something, finds it unattainable, and reduces one's dissonance by criticizing it. Jon Elster calls this pattern "adaptive preference formation."^[1

i may be missing some nuance of yours here...

;)

'The history of public debt is full of irony. It rarely follows our ideas of order and justice.' Thomas Piketty

maybe one reason for lack of commanding, charismatic, green movement leaders is the inner inconsistency, cog-diss, between the lifestyle of a pol, jetting around, and the personal example that gives integrity to the persona.

the further you get into that kind of double-bind, the less power you have personally, the same power you'll need extra oodles of just to swim upstream, let alone inspire others to do likewise.

whereas supporters of the status quo have the massive public ignorance as current to carry them down the river of their own preconceptions.

it is tragic, how much more pain people will manifest before they look up from the sports page, or the celeb vamping.

what are you gonna do? i guess the planet has to get so mad at us that only pols who walk and talk green will dare show their faces, let alone ask us the privilege of our votes.

meanwhile we skry the graphs and wonder what miracle could save us...

'The history of public debt is full of irony. It rarely follows our ideas of order and justice.' Thomas Piketty