Towards real bipartisanship
April 11, 2016 4 Comments
I really liked this NYT Op-Ed from conservative, but very much reasonable, scholar Arthur Brooks:
Consider, for example, that two billion people have risen from subsistence-level poverty in the past few decades. Mainstream economists, from left to right, recognize that it was no state organization or foreign aid that did this; it was the spread of globalization, trade and the rule of law. It is not political to say that American economic ideals, while not perfect, pulled billions of our brothers and sisters out of poverty.
To lift up the next two billion people, advocates for the poor need to work together with people who are passionate about the role of free markets — roughly speaking, the left and the right. This is not an appeal for anyone to abandon his or her political views. But each side needs to recognize that starting the ignition of prosperity in the corners of the world that need it most desperately requires two keys, one traditionally held by each side. [emphasis mine]
The current polarization in America obstructs this kind of collaboration. So what’s the antidote? I asked the Dalai Lama, one of the world’s experts on bringing people together. He made two points. First, the solution starts not with institutions, but with individuals. We look too much to political parties or Congress to make progress, but not nearly enough at our own behavior.
You can’t single-handedly change the country, but you can change yourself. By declaring your independence from the bitterness washing over our nation, you can strike a small blow for greater national unity.
Second, each of us must aspire to what the Dalai Lama calls “warmheartedness” toward those with whom we disagree. This might sound squishy, but it is actually tough and practical advice. As he has stated, “I defeat my enemies when I make them my friends.” He is not advocating surrender to the views of those with whom we disagree. Liberals should be liberals and conservatives should be conservatives. But our duty is to be respectful, fair and friendly to all, even those with whom we have great differences.
Very good points, but I want to be somewhat unwarm and raise a few complaints. First, yes, both sides can do better, but the far greater resistance to compromise among conservatives is extremely well-documented. Fair to say, they’ve got more work to do. Also, all but the far left recognize the value of capitalism and free markets. We just need properly regulated markets, damnit. And a government that recognizes the inherent weaknesses of markets (e.g., public health care) and appropriately steps in.
Also, as for the “warmheartedness” (very similar, of course, to the principle of charity advocated by Jon K. and Jonathan Haidt) sometimes the other side is really not worthy of so much respect. Oh, just off the top of my head, maybe fearmongering about safety in pubic restrooms to pass far broader legislation to ensure that LGBT discrimination is okay. Cannot work up a lot of respect and warmth for that.
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