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Political discourse today is too often derailed by extreme commitments to ideology. This is evident across the political spectrum and on just about every issue. Where ideological fundamentalism grows, the democratic virtues inevitably diminish. Intellectual rigor is replaced with dogma, persuasion is given up for activism, and arguments are reduced to mere apologetics and its accompanying arsenal of mimicked sound bytes. Fundamentalism breeds the democratically dangerous thought that not only am I absolutely right, but that anyone who disagrees with me is probably evil. Fundamentalists distrust any sources of knowledge that don’t already conform to their perspective. As a result, opposing perspectives are never considered and the claims of fellow fundamentalists are never questioned. What’s worse: the more extreme and loud the claim, the more it is applauded and celebrated by others in the fold.
It is a form of reductionism. And when brought into the political arena it can swiftly devolve into a form of tyranny: “it’s our way OR ELSE!”
I’ve long believed that a source of such political fundamentalism is the all-too-abstract national political landscape. And a remedy for it is found in the practice and elevation of local democracy. Practicing local democracy is humanizing and moderating.
Democracy is reared in the most mundane places and at the youngest of ages: learning how to socialize and play nice with others at the playground, learning how to share with siblings in the living room, and learning how to speak civilly with the family at the dinner table. You may still dislike someone, claim your rights, or disagree with the other person, but your passions are tempered by the fact that they are your neighbors, your brothers, and your sisters.
It is simply a shame that at the time of year when families come together for food, drink, and fellowship, the broken state of our national political discourse means that many families avoid precisely what coming together around a table from the time we were babies was meant to promote.
This Thanksgiving, make your country better by practicing local democracy at the dinner table. Practice putting the human first and the issue second. Instead of avoiding political discussion, transform it. Our kids are watching…
