Have a read. The biggest problem of democratic-like politics has existed in America since our first contested Presidential elections (if Washington were not a given, we may not have had to wait until 1800 to see nasty, lying, politics). The problem is not so much nastiness in politics. If nastiness were a problem, it wouldn’t last. The reason people promote, put up with, and fall prey to nastiness is that large-scale electoral politics creates an atmoshpere condusive to massive simplification. We take a side, and defend it - but because politics debates have the time restaint of a trip to the water cooler, we rely on quick barbs and talking points rather than serious, humble, and receptive discussions. In such a system, if you take more than 15 seconds to verbally explore an issue, you will be interupted. Most likely, by a person with a talking point jumping from the tip of their tongue.
So, divided opinions create nastiness. We want divided opinions, though. I don’t want nastiness, so what is the solution? I admit, this is why I dug Obama when listening to Audacity…his tone seemed to speak to this problem: I liked the tone of humble, receptive thinking. I liked this about McCain, too, in interviews I watched up to about half a year ago.
In any event: the linked article up top of this post got me thinking about politics, divisions, and nastiness. Have a read.
