This Week in Polarization

The degradation of the process of democracy continues as thoughtful airing and arguing of disagreements continues to give way to tribal name calling, finger pointing and accusing.

It’s a good thing we don’t have any serious problems to resolve, or we wouldn’t have time to have this much fun eviscerating each other.

No one can deny that Donald Trump is polarizing – this is his modus operandi, beginning with name calling. Is this a cost we can afford?

The degeneracy of rational discourse into name calling and finger pointing undermines not just one side but both sides of the argument.

A simple guide on how to disagree “well” that is, productively.

As families and friends gathered to celebrate the deepest values and traditions of freedom, rebirth and renewal, the arrogant, self-serving, counterproductive rancor of polarization churned on.

The topic may be guns…or taxes…or immigrants…or bathrooms. But the stakes are much higher than any single issue. When do we notice what we’re losing?

Take control away from the polarizers by reframing the question.

The “conversation” has drifted slightly away from arguments over proposals to more raw, tribalistic finger pointing and name calling.

The floodgates of polarization around the issue of guns opened by the Florida school shooting blasted open even wider.

The school shooting in Florida understandably opened the floodgates of polarization around the issue of guns.

There were plenty of examples of how polarization fools us into believing we’re well informed, whereas in reality we’re simply being manipulated.

The State of the Disunion takes center stage.

How the poison of polarization creeps into our political (sub)-consciousness without us even noticing.

To discuss polarization without mentioning Donald Trump is like talking about Christmas without mentioning Christ.

“Stick and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me” is simply not true, because words carry meaning.

Depolarizing is not about “turning the other cheek.” It’s about actually respecting the importance, not of your opponent, but of the argument—the issue—itself.

Revisiting a powerful, eloquent statement on the value and importance of civil discourse.

Politics these days is heavily tilted toward fight as the clips below amply demonstrate. But why?

Keeping the discussion focused, moving forward and in the service of winning over not just hearts, but minds as well.

Focusing on straw man issues whose value in enforcing biases is more important than their substance.

Robust disagreeing is actually a good thing.

Whether you’re a left-winger or a right winger, try also to be an Angel-winger and lift the conversation above the differences to see the fuller, truer picture that is America.

Politics is where citizens meet to hash out our deepest disagreements – and in doing so literally create the society, the civilization that we and our children will live in.

If you are genuinely serious about your disagreement with an issue, you must actually listen to and understand what you are disagreeing about.

We, as Americans, cherish the freedom and right to disagree—which we do, often deeply about important issues that need resolution.

The gesture of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country was callously used again and again as an excuse to point fingers at “them.”

We, as Americans, cherish the freedom and right to disagree—which we do, often deeply about important issues that need resolution.

The aftermath of the horrific mass murder in Las Vegas shows once again how polarizing the issue of gun control is—and how counter-productive polarization is.