4 ms·

We're small but we're talking to some very big companies about getting on board as well. Please encourage your leadership to join us! The policy is for everyon

We're small but we're talking to some very big companies about getting on board as well. Please encourage your leadership to join us! The policy is for everyone; regardless of viewpoint or affiliation. Civic engagement benefits us all.

nickff 10y ago
In what sense? Politics usually brings out the worst in people, contrary to what the early proponents of democracy believed. Most people believe that their opponents are mean, greedy, and stupid, or at least fools who have been taken by clever propaganda.[1] [1] http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11324722-the-righteous-mind http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11324722-the-righteous-mi...
- zelon88 10y ago
  Without disagreeing with you that politics brings out the worst in people; how do you propose our government should operate without civic engagement? Which feedback mechanisms would government have to determine what its people are looking for?
  - vkou 10y ago
    The government generally knows what its people are looking for. When it acts against their interests, it is not because it doesn't know any better.
- jfoutz 10y ago
  In a random facebook post, yes absolutely. Still possible but not as bad in person, over coffee or beer. Even less likely when it's a person you have to work with for weeks or months to come to an agreement. People believe things for reasons. Eventually everybody understands everybody else's reasons. They may not agree, but by understanding the nature of disagreement, you can usually find a way.
- hathawsh 10y ago
  The belief that political opponents are mean, greedy, stupid, and/or foolish is the first thing we need to debug. No one is going to make much progress in such a hostile environment. Conservatives need to work to understand liberals well enough that they no longer feel a desire to belittle them and vice versa. Understanding each other better is a fight we can win IMHO.

nickff 10y ago

In what sense? Politics usually brings out the worst in people, contrary to what the early proponents of democracy believed. Most people believe that their opponents are mean, greedy, and stupid, or at least fools who have been taken by clever propaganda.[1] [1] http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11324722-the-righteous-mind http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11324722-the-righteous-mi...

zelon88 10y ago
Without disagreeing with you that politics brings out the worst in people; how do you propose our government should operate without civic engagement? Which feedback mechanisms would government have to determine what its people are looking for?
- vkou 10y ago
  The government generally knows what its people are looking for. When it acts against their interests, it is not because it doesn't know any better.
jfoutz 10y ago
In a random facebook post, yes absolutely. Still possible but not as bad in person, over coffee or beer. Even less likely when it's a person you have to work with for weeks or months to come to an agreement. People believe things for reasons. Eventually everybody understands everybody else's reasons. They may not agree, but by understanding the nature of disagreement, you can usually find a way.
hathawsh 10y ago
The belief that political opponents are mean, greedy, stupid, and/or foolish is the first thing we need to debug. No one is going to make much progress in such a hostile environment. Conservatives need to work to understand liberals well enough that they no longer feel a desire to belittle them and vice versa. Understanding each other better is a fight we can win IMHO.