Cognitive dissonance is actually the process in a human mind in which happens when a person gets conflicting information and chooses to ignore the info they do not agree with and keep the info they do believe.
If you are a liberal/progressive, you usually believe people are inherently bad. If you are a conservative you usually believe in the natural goodness of people.
As liberals/progressives, you fight the conservative information with emotions. As conservatives put forth more and more rational thought which goes against your emoyional beliefs, you start to respond with more and more emotional outbursts with less and less rational ability.
The goal becomes one of demonizing the holder of conservative/rational beliefs even if fabrication is required. Liberals at this point are incapable discerning that they may be wrong and believethat others are bad and are out to get the liberal.
This results in inordinate and irrational fears and attacks on conservatives who have influence. Hence we have liberals denying the MSM, Hollywood, etc are liberal.
Vast right wing conspiracies are out to get us, right wing radio talk shows need regulating (censorship) cuz they too are out to get us. Big corporations are our enemies, conservatives have all of the power, we (liberals) are victims.
My opinion has been offerd.
I think you got it backwards, cs. Liberals believe humans are inherently good, from lazy welfare queens that "just need a helping hand" to terrorists that "need to be engaged in dialogue so their grievances can be addressed". Their solutions tend to be Pollyanna, which drives conservatives nuts because they want rational, real-world solutions.