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2024 Election

“There will be power at stake, but also tremendous profit as the purveyors of opinion seek to build audiences and sell advertisements. But we are not helpless. We can be more fair to each other and thus create the conditions for a more fruitful discourse.” - Public Discourse

Discussion

Wed, 08/23/23

A great read! I wish there was a political party that thought this way.

More…

Great good comes of government, but so does great evil because it combines power with the human tendency to sin. Accordingly, we must take care. The power of government is often the straightest path to both boon and disaster. Which of the two destinations we reach is in part determined by our character.

And at the end… (emphasis added)

Some politicians are true leaders, statesmen rather than mere partisans. But most are instinctive. They will respond to us. So if we want to disagree more accurately and to carry out a higher quality discourse, then we must model it for them and show them that this constant parade of grotesque gestures and preening for clicks must end. Let us accompany our freedom with self-discipline, charity, and awareness of our own limitations.

As 2024 approaches, there will be tremendous temptations to go still further in taking the gloves off in an attempt to prevail by any means necessary. There will be power at stake, but also tremendous profit as the purveyors of opinion seek to build audiences and sell advertisements. But we are not helpless. We can be more fair to each other and thus create the conditions for a more fruitful discourse.

I think we can. But I believe we must if our polity is to survive.

He has described the problem well. I’m not so sure there is a grass roots/citizen solution, though. But if a hundred million or so decided to behave this way, it sure couldn’t hurt.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

Wed, 08/23/23

>>I’m not so sure there is a grass roots/citizen solution, though.<<

Agreed. As long as most of the voters (or even a minority making the most noise) prefer to be perpetually outraged rather than having to think and have “quality discourse,” and enjoy screaming and acting like Antifa, it won’t matter what the rest of us want. The politicians will react to what they see gives them the most votes. People who think and can argue above a 5th-grade playground “got ya last” level are now in the minority and given our current educational system, likely to remain so.

It used to be that the media and other institutions would help drive the discourse to substantial topics and actually promote using good judgment rather than shouting others down, but since they draw from the same pool of poorly educated and badly socialized new workers, they are only making things worse.

I’m afraid its going to take something really drastic to turn things around, and I’m not sure I want to live through a societal upheaval that large.

Dave Barnhart