American political strategist and commentator James Carville is well-known and has been involved in Democratic politics for a number of decades. He is well-known for his direct and frequently amusing political commentary in the United States. He regularly offers insights on how, historically, those in positions of authority have occasionally made choices that appear illogical or detrimental.

Carville notes that despite the abundance of professional counsel and reasoned arguments, leaders are still capable of making decisions that are detrimental to both themselves and the people they are in charge of. This observation draws attention to a common human weakness: decision-makers can be influenced by emotions, pressure from supporters, or personal biases even when they have access to information and reason.

Consider a captain navigating a ship through choppy waters to demonstrate this idea. Based on historical data and weather reports, the sailors may argue that going back is the safest course of action. However, the captain may disregard these warnings because he is committed to getting to his destination no matter what or because he fears being perceived as weak.

Similar to this overconfident captain, political leaders can be more focused on upholding their reputation or pursuing a vision than they are on making sensible choices given the situation at hand. This tendency has been noted throughout history and in a variety of political systems; it is not specific to any one time period or nation.

Carville's observation serves as a reminder that although we may assume that those in authority will make logical decisions, human nature frequently results in poor decision-making.