Invitation

When's the last time you saw a meaningful debate between political opponents? Everywhere, I see division; I see hate and bickering and a complete failure to approach discussion of issues with meaningful conversation. In chats, on FaceBook and Twitter, and in the comments below news and feature stories - it's always the same. There seem to be two sides, each with its own unique set of ideals in which no common ground can be found. Is it any wonder we can't solve the problems we perceive in government and society?

Everyone wants to talk, nobody wants to listen. We've somehow lost the ability to negotiate; to consider ideas other than our own, to try to comprehend other points of view or even listen for some way of understanding. I don't know how this has happened, though I have some guesses. What I do know is that things will continue to deteriorate for all of us until we find a way to work out our differences.

Come to #rational-politics with the goal of altering your way of conversing with your political opponents, because that is the chat room's first and most important goal - to find a way to discuss rather than bicker; to listen as much as we speak; to learn as well as teach - this is the prime directive. It's as though we're on two different worlds with distinct languages. We each must strive to understand the other's point of view.

The burden of finding a path is on both. Not just your opponent... you, too. We're going to look for rules and guidelines to facilitate that process. We're going to learn first to comprehend, then to communicate, and finally, to negotiate.

People who understand this and are willing to work hard will be on the leading edge of finding a way out of the hole our system has dug for us. Yes, it will be extremely difficult - maybe even impossible, but maybe not. Maybe we'll succeed. Come to #rational-politics if you're willing to try.

Thanks for reading.