Ok. All well and good. My first question would be a very simple one: can you actually find people who believe the same facts as you do? such as: that Joe Biden won the last election. Can you find people who share with you a common understanding of the way the world works (such as the physics of global warming)? Can you find people that believe a woman has a right to choice? I am not being facetious. These are real questions. I encounter such extreme opinions and unwillingness to listen to what I consider to be the existential facts of the universe when I’m on Threads, the social app, that I despair that these open minded individuals exist. However, I am given to believe you must have, otherwise you would not show such optimism about the future. I, too, believe in bridge building, like my hero, Senator Bernie Sanders. He says work with anyone as long as you can get it done. Hence, I have become a pragmatist. I will talk with anyone who will listen to me, but do not suffer fools, or sealioning.
Very much appreciate the question, Carle. To start, none of this is easy, and there will never be 100% of people agreeing on even the most basic truths.
To give an example of a common ground approach on reproductive rights - when the Senate was trying to codify Roe, it could have taken up a Murkowski bill that was largely similar to the Democratic one, and it would have gotten 52 votes instead of 49. 60 were needed for passage anyway, but why not show the few pro choice Republicans that their leadership mattered? In my opinion, we can be better at this kind of outreach on most issues. Bernie, "the amendment king" during his House days, certainly knows this.
Lastly, I think most social media is the absolute wrong place to find common ground. Too much incentivization for outrage, anger, and hiding behind anonymity. Linkedin might be the only exception.
Ok. All well and good. My first question would be a very simple one: can you actually find people who believe the same facts as you do? such as: that Joe Biden won the last election. Can you find people who share with you a common understanding of the way the world works (such as the physics of global warming)? Can you find people that believe a woman has a right to choice? I am not being facetious. These are real questions. I encounter such extreme opinions and unwillingness to listen to what I consider to be the existential facts of the universe when I’m on Threads, the social app, that I despair that these open minded individuals exist. However, I am given to believe you must have, otherwise you would not show such optimism about the future. I, too, believe in bridge building, like my hero, Senator Bernie Sanders. He says work with anyone as long as you can get it done. Hence, I have become a pragmatist. I will talk with anyone who will listen to me, but do not suffer fools, or sealioning.
Very much appreciate the question, Carle. To start, none of this is easy, and there will never be 100% of people agreeing on even the most basic truths.
To give an example of a common ground approach on reproductive rights - when the Senate was trying to codify Roe, it could have taken up a Murkowski bill that was largely similar to the Democratic one, and it would have gotten 52 votes instead of 49. 60 were needed for passage anyway, but why not show the few pro choice Republicans that their leadership mattered? In my opinion, we can be better at this kind of outreach on most issues. Bernie, "the amendment king" during his House days, certainly knows this.
Lastly, I think most social media is the absolute wrong place to find common ground. Too much incentivization for outrage, anger, and hiding behind anonymity. Linkedin might be the only exception.