Solutions Oriented Approach to Restoring Meaningful Civil Discourse

I think you make some good points with this post. Kudos!

What I'd like to address is compromise and use your example of immigration and sovereignty. It is extremely difficult to find compromise between polar opposite stances, but how many Americans actually argue for completely open borders and unlimited immigration, or completely closed borders and no immigration whatsoever?

Isn't the situation much more of a difference in how to secure the borders and allow controlled immigration? .. and what to do with the undocumented that have been here for a very long time and may have children that are American citizens? Can't we find some common ground to discuss methods of achieving security and immigration, rather than reverting to the extremes of philosophic leanings? If we can discuss pragmatic ways to solve a problem instead, maybe we can actually find solutions on which we can all agree. However, it will take compromise by both sides.

I agree with you that we don't fundamentally agree with each other, as a people, now. I think, in order for us to ever find common ground on any issue, we have to stop erecting reasons why we can't, and look for ways we can. It's going to take a mindset change.

 

Before everyone has their free will replaced with an uplink chip to a 'Mother', or are just killed outright by a 'Skynet.'

 

Trying to guess at what goes on in the minds of others is fraught with peril...

but I'll do it anyway.

I agree that they seem to not notice their hypocrisy. I'm not so sure that they truly are unaware of it, though. I think that they simply ignore it as being irrelevant.

I think that the overall strategy is to constantly attack anything and everything which underpins America's success. That this strategy necessitates hypocrisy, illogic, irrationality, and Orwellian doublespeak is of little concern. The attack is what is all-important.

 

It appears that a significant majority if Americans do essentially agree on a framework for a reasonable solution to the issue of illegal immigration. It's the political leaders who don't seem interested in a real solution. They only appear, again and again, to favor granting a path to citizenship for illegal aliens in exchange for a promise to someday solve the issue. The politicians only seem to disagree on the numbers of aliens to be granted this path, and the strength to which they make their promise.

 

And swaztikas and cute white hoods

 

That guy was a mental case who used a car instead of a gun

 

I see discussion and debate as two different things. Discussion is calm and has the goal of getting to some place where most can agree. Debate is more like a game where there is a clear winner and loser.

I think some of the issues here are based upon those differences. Many want to debate, but to reach some solutions which require a majority of positive consensus will be difficult with a debate between two. I see debate as an interesting way to watch two folks go at it, but I have difficulty in agreeing with either, many times.

I think we call that arrogance, when we think our own opinions are the only correct ones. I guess, if there was some way to vote for the best cabinet members on the forum, we could simply ask them what their opinions are and go along. I find that very off-putting in a nation which says each of us is important, not the majority.

Therein may lie the issue.

Honestly, I've never watched a debate here, to my memory. Isn't there a section for it and mods? I thought that was the place for debate, not the entire forum.

 

I think most problems simply don't have a political solution.
Conflict is hence created where there was none, if people attempt to solve them in this manner.

The less issues you politicise, the less polarised politics is.

I think people vote against things more than they vote for things. So the more things you attempt to address, the more people you alienate.

 

You're right, and that's what's so crazy. There is such a huge disconnect between the voters and those they elect. I have to wonder if the push not to solve the problem of immigration is being influenced by some special interests swaying the politicians, because it seems most voters send them to Washington to solve the problem.

 

How do you intend to get everyone to agree to your ideology?

 

Hey, I am a bully ..like our president,

 

Spanking is an option of discipline- one that most likely will be called for, and used properly may never be needed again.
How do we teach adults? You really ask the tough question there.
You teach them when they are ready to learn. Many will die before that happens, because they already know everything; they learned it when they were 16.

 

A huge problem is this: Postmodernism. It often goes under the name of "critical theory", and it is pure cancer.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-unfortunate-fallout-of-campus-postmodernism/

How can you have a meaningful discussion with someone whose only means of "discussion" is shouting down and shaming down anyone who disagrees? How do you have meaningful discourse with someone who believes personal truth supercedes objective truth, to the point that anecdotes are esteemed over data because "muh lived experience"?

 

There are people who have posted on this board professing to believe in open borders and no citizenship requirements. It is a position echoed in the larger media including social media. The problem I have with this thinking is that it is one-way. In other words, the US borders should remain open and unguarded, but no other country is expected to do the same.

I heartily disagree with allowing anyone to become a citizen who has not met requirements - most importantly naturalization processes. However, if as you say, we all want some kind of sovereignty the only question is how to achieve it, I have not seen the Left put forth earnest suggestions to demonstrate that position. Where is the support for border control - or the concern that what we have been doing has not worked for the past 50 years. Where are Democrats crying out to their candidates to come up with a solution? Crickets. What we DO hear is the unending plethora of nasty accusations that anyone adamant about rectifying the problem is a racist.

To me, it is as simple and obvious as Newtonian physics: open boarders create undocumented people.

 

Yeah, one should not violate the person or property of one's fellow man. Or as we teach our children: Don't hurt other people and don't mess with their stuff.

 

Easy as pie: refuse to let them irritate us.

Calling leftism a philosophy is like calling Hitler a statesman.

There may be a very few leftists who don't hate America, but they're all of them ruining the country whether they mean to or not, you betcha.

Yeah, well very often debating is contraindicated.

So if I think my "opinion" that marriage is between one man and one woman is the only correct one, is that arrogant? And if yes, how so?

 

I think it is when you force your opinion on others and do not allow opposition at threat of punishment.

 

The problem is much more simplistic. We need to repeal the sunshine laws and stop pretending that an effective government can be based on governing by public opinion. Our system was originally designed where respected people were elected and trusted to run the country without having to be accountable to every whim of public opinion.

Time to go back to comprimising in smoke filled rooms where compromises were made and every elected officisl wasn't hung based on their most radical supporters knowing their every vote and every compromise.