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Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Bipartisanship: Finding Common Ground

If I had to remove all of my postings for the last ten years that I've been blogging relating to politics in my blog except one, this would be the one I'd keep because it contains a YouTube link to a twenty minute TED talk that speaks to how American politics can become more bipartisan. It speaks to the core of our becoming more practical and humane as part of the human endeavor. 

"Three years ago, Jonathan Haidt, a psychologist, gave a short TED talk about how American politics can become less polarized and more bipartisan. How? Mainly by realizing where there are common threats to "all" Americans that we all recognize. He also brings to bear the needed moral focus that would allow liberals and conservatives to work together where they share common ground."

YouTube: 20 minutes
https://youtu.be/v3o-F94S4FI

There are major issues where common ground exists between the political left and the right (need for criminal justice reform, rising illegitimate birth rates, rising economic inequality, the national debt, etcetera) that both political parties agree need to be dealt with. Because, if we don't, then we all will suffer even more from their increasing impact. 

Note that other subjects such as climate change and the untenability of the social democratic welfare state are not as amenable to bipartisanship. We, therefore, should agree to disagree and move on to those areas where we do agree. When strong negative effects of such untended partisan issues impact us later on, then bipartisanship shall prevail. Meanwhile, to remain locked over partisanship all across the board is simply not in our anyone's best interests.