Even smart scholars think nothing can be done to solve the problem of polarization, but they’re unduly pessimistic: there are institutional reforms that would work if we muster the will to adopt them
This might work after we get rid of Citizens United (the mis-named court case) which is the big enabler of polarization even before plurality voting. Voters might think they like a well-funded candidate whom their favorite well-founded media outlet says is moderate, only to find that the candidate really favors anti-tax (for wealthy people, not the rest of us), pro-business policies that don't benefit most voters
The United States Constitution and its institutions were created for a moral people it is incompatible with any other. We are no longer a moral people we celebrate homosexuality, excuse crime based on our race, gender, sexual orientation etc., encourage recreational drug usage, and many other things. Tribalism comes when objective truths are rejected and everybody begins fighting with each other over “their” truth. Despair and disillusionment are increased when people don’t know what the truth is, no one wants to be deceived and it is emotionally devastating when you find out you were. I believe we can find common ground, but it cannot come at the expense of excusing or glorifying evil behavior or not discussing the consequences of our actions and policies that are proposed. The issue is not and has never been our what some would call archaic institutions, it is our society’s embrace of evil behaviors and practices since the 1960’s.
This might work after we get rid of Citizens United (the mis-named court case) which is the big enabler of polarization even before plurality voting. Voters might think they like a well-funded candidate whom their favorite well-founded media outlet says is moderate, only to find that the candidate really favors anti-tax (for wealthy people, not the rest of us), pro-business policies that don't benefit most voters
The United States Constitution and its institutions were created for a moral people it is incompatible with any other. We are no longer a moral people we celebrate homosexuality, excuse crime based on our race, gender, sexual orientation etc., encourage recreational drug usage, and many other things. Tribalism comes when objective truths are rejected and everybody begins fighting with each other over “their” truth. Despair and disillusionment are increased when people don’t know what the truth is, no one wants to be deceived and it is emotionally devastating when you find out you were. I believe we can find common ground, but it cannot come at the expense of excusing or glorifying evil behavior or not discussing the consequences of our actions and policies that are proposed. The issue is not and has never been our what some would call archaic institutions, it is our society’s embrace of evil behaviors and practices since the 1960’s.