Here’s my observation with respect to the U.S. Elections. Most people opining on why Americans shouldn’t vote for the other party/candidate are full of shit, painting caricatures of people who vote for the other party/candidate. This goes both ways, from both the “Trump/Vance” camp and the “Harris/Walz“ camp, both Democrat and Republican.
The majority of people are re-enforcing inherited narratives about the “other”, fuelled by the toxic incentives that guide electoral politics as sport. I’m more and more won over to the idea that this is by design.
If we actually invested time to speak with each other, to focus on values and hopes for society, we would find that 80% of people can generally agree on 80% of things. However, our current civic climate pushes us to engage at the fringes, beginning from the disposition of the 20% focused first and foremost on the 20% of things on which they disagree. We are sucked into this abyss of false conflict.
Regardless of the outcome today, perhaps make a point of talking to more people with who you are led to believe you “disagree”. If you skew Democrat, have a conversation with some people who skew Republican. And, vice versa. Ask people what they think a better, fair society means to them; what it would look like. Try to get at what they think the core values are that should infuse society. Make the effort to extend a generosity of spirit.
The only way things get better is if we make them get better, one person, one conversation at a time.
#ElectionDay #USelection #press
The "rub" is the core values are diametrically opposed
Not as much as you would think.
I'd argue it is more than you think.
I disagree. I believe we use coded language and make presumptions about others. If we work at decoding language and try to get at first principles and core human values we’ll find that we share many values, we just speak of and code them differently.
I agree we use coded language, for example we all say "freedom" but that means vastly different things.
I'm not sure the values are actually that different. Priorities, maybe.
Sure. insofar as they both want "freedom". One side that means leave them alone. the other side it means "freedom" from gun violence by gun control. "Freedom" from misinformation by censoring.
But yeah, they both say they value "freedom".
Most folks who want gun control haven't thought about it (maybe haven't had to think about it) beyond just the general idea that fewer guns probably means fewer school shootings.
I think most of them do want freedom, but they don't connect the idea of freedom with the right to bear arms.
Correct. Freedom means different things to different people. One can mean actual freedom, while another is for people to live the way they demand. Words can be the same, values diametrically opposed. For example "freedom from poverty" or "right to affordable health care"
I've moved from a liberal area to a conservative area, and I can confirm that it's at least 80% that we agree on. Hard to watch people I love and respect think that they hate each other 😢
But - yes, I agree - talk with folks that see the world from a different perspective! Humbly, and with curiosity.
Nope. Republicans are morons.
congratulations on being part of the problem i guess
💯 - the division we see is not a bug, it's a feature.
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