Better Democracy Requires Better People

I messed up today and am reminded that I need to be a better person. People need to engage each other with more patience and compassion, in life and in politics. It would make for better lives and better communities. I frequently suggest that people not immediately assume the worst of elected officials. It is too easy to dehumanize people with titles and positions and assume that “they” are all bad and intent on doing mean things. Such an approach is poisonous. Instead of focusing us on issues and attempts to reach collaborative solutions, the negativity devolves toward meaningless yapping.

Great theory, yes? Unfortunately, I failed the lab practicum.

I have worked diligently to open doors to government. It is something that burns brightly within me. Thus, when I read an article saying that I was working to shut out the public, I assumed the worst of “them,” the mainstream media. Because I had dehumanized “them” in my mind, forgetting that I know Bob and Lisa and respect them, it gave me permission to respond with anger and accusations.

A few hours later, I did what I should have done in the first place. I called Bob Bernick, the flesh and bone human being, and discussed the issue with him. He immediately agreed that the piece should not have stated that I admitted the main objective of the lawsuit was to scotch the vote, but, rather, that I admitted the lawsuit raised a possibility of doing away with the vote (a point on which I elaborated that Courts are expert at fashioning remedies). Without me asking, he offered to run a clarification.

Of course, he did. He’s a person who takes pride in his work and is trying his best. Handing off interview notes from one reporter to another (and humans just being humans) can lead to mistakes and misinterpretations. Sorry, Bob, and sorry to all, that I did exactly what I’m trying to discourage – jumping immediately to negative assumptions and dialogue-poisoning accusations, instead of having a conversation.

I came back from PDF with a renewed commitment to employ dialogue-promoting views and terms. Looks like I need to move more mental files from the “them” category to the “us” category.