Improve your ability to participate in the democratic process!! Our (Americans') democratic "muscles" have atrophied so much in recent decades. People can hardly disagree without thinking the other is evil. I've found that even in small groups (such as school-parent coop), people struggle to do things like negotiate different priorities, listen to one another, and come to a compromise. This is a very dire condition for a democratically-led society, as these skills are essential for such a system to function.
No one is going to fix this for us, but we can all contribute to fixing it together! To quote a recent New Yorker article on democracy in crisis[0], "Don’t ask whether you need an umbrella [if you need to prepare for failure of democracy]. Go outside and stop the rain [fix it!]."
How? Make an effort to reach out to people with different views. Commit to listen to them and be willing to agree to disagree in a friendly manner. You'd be surprised how quickly the name-calling can stop and the shared humanity can be found when you really listen! For inspiration & guidance, read one or more of the following:
* Don't Label Me by Irshad Manji (lots of practical democratic advice, if you pick only one pick this one)
* The Coddling of the American Mind by Haidt & Lukianoff
* How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The second book has an overly-confrontational title–rest assured the book itself is level headed and thoughtful. The third book will help you in business & your personal life, and may improve democracy as well!
Let's (Americans) roll up our sleeves and take on The Big Challenge in 2020: improving our own democratic skills to get our society back on track.
No one is going to fix this for us, but we can all contribute to fixing it together! To quote a recent New Yorker article on democracy in crisis[0], "Don’t ask whether you need an umbrella [if you need to prepare for failure of democracy]. Go outside and stop the rain [fix it!]."
How? Make an effort to reach out to people with different views. Commit to listen to them and be willing to agree to disagree in a friendly manner. You'd be surprised how quickly the name-calling can stop and the shared humanity can be found when you really listen! For inspiration & guidance, read one or more of the following:
The second book has an overly-confrontational title–rest assured the book itself is level headed and thoughtful. The third book will help you in business & your personal life, and may improve democracy as well!Let's (Americans) roll up our sleeves and take on The Big Challenge in 2020: improving our own democratic skills to get our society back on track.
0: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/02/03/the-last-time-...