The brilliant Thomas Sowell asks the question “Is Thinking Obsolete?” in a commentary that reflects his typical pithy and pointed manner. He slaps down the arguments made against Israel, in favor of illegal immigration, and — ever the economist — he takes on those who would arbitrarily raise the minimum wage to unprecedented levels. Geraldo Rivera receives a much-deserved smack down, too.

We don’t think anymore — we would rather feel good and vent. We don’t consider consequences of actions we endorse. On Facebook we look at out-of-context quotes from famous people, set in flowing typeface and placed in saccharine settings, and consider them to be profound. The 24-hour news cycle takes an isolated incident and then drums it hourly, leading the unthinking viewer to assume that such events are happening everywhere. The Internet — on which, of course, we all rely — is a double-edged sword: we receive information almost instantaneously, while also regurgitating misinformation and panic at nearly the same speed.

“Bringing the doctor and nurse back from Africa is bringing Ebola into the country.” News flash: it’s been here.

“We need to restrict guns — there has never been such a loss of children’s lives as at Sandy Hook.” Wrong. There was Bath, Michigan, 1927. And no guns were involved.

“Women are underpaid, as compared with men in the same fields.” Not when you examine those pesky variables, sweetheart.

“Everyone needs a living wage — minimum wage should be $15 per hour.” Damn the consequences, of course, we want to feel good about this.

And the uninformed, the unthinking, the vacuous voters, rely upon their reactions to these news stories, these quotes, the Internet postings — to decide their stances and yes, their votes.

I give you Exhibit A: President Barack Obama.