What if 'Polarization' Isn't the Big Problem? (Ben Shapiro)

[Valin]

Jewish World Review

Ben Shapiro

Oct. 6, 2021

This week, the University of Virginia Center for Politics released a poll surveying Americans' feelings about their political opponents. According to the poll, 80% of Biden voters and 84% of Trump voters believed that elected officials of the opposite party present a "clear and present danger to American democracy"; 78% of Biden voters believed that the Republican Party wanted to eliminate the influence of "progressive values" in American life, while 87% of Trump voters believed that the Democrats wanted to eliminate "traditional values"; 75% of Biden voters and 78% of Trump voters believed that the opposing party's supporters were a "clear and present danger to the American way of life."

(Snip)

The problem with this, of course, is that we all have different ideas of the right person and the right principles. And once we have agreed that the government ought to have the ability to fix all our problems, anyone who stands in our way becomes a heretic. By abandoning the Founders' accurate characterization of human nature and the governmental structure embodied in the Constitution, we set ourselves up for polarization and rage.

Perhaps the first step toward fixing our newfound dislike for democratic norms is to re-inculcate not love of neighbor, but understanding of human flaws, human foibles and the limits of human understanding. Perhaps we ought to start with some epistemic humility.

From that source, perhaps a renewal of democratic norms and an embrace of our neighbors might spring.

[Valin]

Couple of thoughts

5 words i like to keep in mind. But...I...Could...Be...Wrong.

3 small Simple Questions (that should always be asked and answered)

1. What Do You Want?

2. How Do You Get It?

3. Then What Happens?

We all ask the 1st 2, they're pretty easy. (IMO)The 3rd one, hardly ever seriously asked/answered. Why Because Its Hard. The Law Of Unintended Consequences is a real SOB!