Divided Nation (EP.77)

Summary

Haven’t we all heard that phrase over and over again? If we listen to the people who describe the division, it seems like one side has it all right and the other side is somewhere between imbecilic and evil–perhaps both. Tell me if you have heard either or both of these assessments. “The voters on the other side are racists, sexists, xenophobes and generally uneducated. Furthermore, many of them used their votes to betray their gender and race.” Or, alternatively, “The voters on the other side are looking to spend money that is not theirs in order to get everything free, everything from college to healthcare to food and housing. Furthermore, many of them are not qualified to vote in the first place.”

Those assessments are based on all the wrong assumptions, which, in turn, are based on the wrong questions. Let’s work through that today and come up with the right questions and issues. When we do that, our differences can, and should, become our strengths–not potentially our demise.

Transcript

Haven’t we all heard that phrase over and over again? If we listen to the people who describe the division, it seems like one side has it all right and the other side is somewhere between imbecilic and evil–perhaps both. Tell me if you have heard either or both of these assessments. “The voters on the other side are racists, sexists, xenophobes and generally uneducated. Furthermore, many of them used their votes to betray their gender and race.” Or, alternatively, “The voters on the other side are looking to spend money that is not theirs in order to get everything free, everything from college to healthcare to food and housing. Furthermore, many of them are not qualified to vote in the first place.”

Those assessments are based on all the wrong assumptions, which, in turn, are based on the wrong questions. Let’s work through that today and come up with the right questions and issues. When we do that, our differences can, and will, become our strengths–not potentially our demise.

We allow ourselves to be all wrapped up with labels; political leanings in general, specific party affiliations in particular, and identities like gender, race, sexual preference, religious affiliation–and whatever else the label makers can come up with to divide us. Yes, divide us. They need to keep us divided along lines they outline so that we will have to choose up sides, and remain loyal to the side that has been chosen for us.

And these labels, political parties, identity groups, etc., are designed to steer us in one direction or the other when it comes to key issues in our communities and our world. Issues like immigration, healthcare, education, geography and abortions. And climate change and so many, many others. This formula, this equation, starts with labels and uses those labels to steer us toward selecting our stance on the issues of the day, and the political allegiance based on those labels.

We are working the equation backwards. And when we approach any task backwards, we wind up in a jam. The jam we are in today is a deep, dysfunctional and widening division in our country. If we do not do something, starting now, we will fail. The world’s oldest democracy, the most powerful nation, militarily and economically, the world has ever seen, will totter and fall. “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” -Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States.

Here’s how qet get a head start on fixing things; start with finding common goals instead of starting with labels. I promise you that with people of good intentions and goodwill, there is no topic, no issue, no matter how controversial, were we cannot come together and find common goals. To do that, we first need to ask the right questions. Let’s look at some examples:

K-12 Education. If you are a Democrat, you are supposed to want to severely limit Charter Schools, and prohibit vouchers. Republicans are supposed to want the opposite. What would happen if we started with a question, based on an example common goal: “How do we get the best (pre)K-12 education with the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars?” Toy with that one for a bit, and see where it goes.

Climate Change: Instead of starting with conflicting observations like, “If you ignore climate change, you will be responsible for ending life on earth as we know it.” And the opposite, “Nothing is happening here. These are not the droids you are looking for.”  Replace those positions with a straightforward question, “Recognizing that the climate is changing, is there a cure that is not worse than the disease?”

Abortion (you knew I had to go there, right?): Instead of exclamations like, “It’s my body!” and “Don’t steal my healthcare!” or, accusations like, “Murderers! You are killing babies!” Instead of all that, let’s try two questions. “When does life start?” and “When is it permissible for the state to sanction the taking of a life?”

We could do this on each and every issue that faces us. Here’s a $100 challenge: I will give you $100 if you can come up with a topic, no matter how controversial, where we cannot come up with a common goal statement, or clarifying questions that would lead to the formulation of a common goal. Are you in?

Today’s key point: Yes, we are divided, but it is because we are falling for what the dividers, the ones who benefit from this division, e.g., most politicians, much of the media and powerful special interest groups, are selling us. We need to call BS, and think for ourselves. I invite you to do exactly that, perhaps using this podcast as a starting point. Hint: Revolution 2.0 is coming. Please stand by…

The group that we all want to identify with is the group that finds common goals, then delivers those results using, you guessed it, reason. Identify the common goals, research the applicable facts–not opinions and biases–and use non agenda-based reasoning with those facts to reach the common goals. Try it. This works.

Links and References

Ask the Right Questions

Divided Nation

Charter School Make Public Schools Better

Abortion

Contact

As we get ready to wrap up, please do reach out with comments or questions about this podcast or anything that comes to mind.  You can email me at will@revolution2-0.org, or connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. And you can subscribe to the podcast on your favorite device through Apple Podcasts, Google, or Stitcher.

Frequency

I publish two podcasts each week; mid-day on Tuesday and Friday. Every week. I am also considering doing these as videos on YouTube, and would love to get your thoughts.

Let’s apply the two Results With Reason main tenets to today’s issues. The two main tenets that we believe in at Results With Reason are:

1. Personal Responsibility; practice it, teach it and
2. Be Your Brother’s Keeper.

Today’s application is again straightforward:

1. Personal Responsibility. Engage with others in the political issues you find on these podcasts. Whether or not you agree with everything your hear or read at here Results With Reason, don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe, for what you know to be true.
2. Be your Brother’s Keeper. Be patient with each other; some will understand what you saying immediately, others will not. Teach and encourage; don’t criticize and reject. Love and lead. Remember, we are all in this together.

Now it is time for our usual parting thought. It is not enough to be informed. It is not enough to be a well informed voter. We need to act.  And if we, you and I, don’t do something, then the others who are doing something, will continue to run the show.

Remember: Knowledge by itself is the booby prize.

Will Luden, writing to you from my home office at 7,200’ in Colorado Springs.

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Will Luden

I am Will Luden, the creator and host of Revolution 2.0. We do not advocate for people or parties here—we advocate for principles and policies. Those that include having a moral compass, searching for and implementing common goals, and using a combination of facts and unbiased, agenda-free reasoning.

The core, driving principles at Revolution 2.0, are:

1. Personal Responsibility. Take it, teach it.
2. Be Your Brother’s Keeper. Taking care of our brothers and sisters.

If we apply those two core principles simultaneously, we will inevitably be on the right path.

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