Here is my list of how I would like my politicians to behave.
Politicians should:
1. behave civilly,
2. believe in the legitimacy of the electoral process and who it elects,
3. address the issues, not attack the people behind the issues,
4. allow discussion for many viewpoints to be aired, including their own,
5. be willing to work alongside people of different races, religions, education, economic classes, genders, and values,
6. be open to changing their mind as new facts and perspectives are made known,
7. allow a majority vote to implement its decision, with no criticism after that decision has been made, and
8. be willing to work again with people who have disagreed with them.
Is this not a list you would like our current politicians to abide by?
Maybe this list is too soft for you. Maybe you would prefer that we have politicians who can bend democratic rules to implement their version of a better world. Maybe you would prefer those politicians who verbally slay those who disagree with them. Maybe you like politicians who can discourage other people from attending decision-making meetings. If this is your modus operandi, then stop reading. The rest of this article does not belong to you.
Your Challenge
It is one thing to wish and hope our politicians will behave more in accordance with this positive list.
You can comfortably say, “Yes, my politicians should be doing all these things on Dave’s list.”
It is another thing to work this list yourself.
Now you will say: “Well, I’m never going to be elected, so it’s pointless for me to consider this list for myself. It is only for real politicians. They need to be like this, not me.”
Then you will say: “If they can behave like this, then they will get my vote. That is how democracy is supposed to work.”
Well, how is that working for you?
Isn’t the above internal dialogue just a convenient way to get out of your responsibility of being a better person?
Sorry, I’m not going to let you off the hook that easy. Making my readers uncomfortable is why I am still a bottom writer on Medium.
I am going to put you to work. You will have to immerse yourself in this list.
You will either prove that you have all the attributes of this list or you will quickly acquire them. My project will make you walk your talk. It’s time to stop criticizing politicians for whatever good traits they are lacking.
Not the politicians. Not the media. Not the academics. Not the wealthy. Not the other side of your political divide. It’s you. You. You. You. You. You. And you.
It’s all on your shoulders. You will be the one that has to move to a higher level. It does not matter if you never aspire to be a politician.
It’s no wonder I’m such a bottom writer.
Your Forum to Develop Your Skills
You need a place to learn and practice your skills and attitude. I have such a place. Let’s build a new democracy!
I have invented that new democracy. It is called Tiered Democratic Governance (TDG).
Building the TDG will allow us to unload all our cultural baggage that leads to conflict, contention, and confusion.
When we early TDG builders cross that threshold between today’s culture and the early TDG culture, we will consciously and deliberately learn and apply consultation, collaboration, co-operation, and consensus as our modus operandi.
And after we better ourselves in these attributes and we acquire the attitudes of the above list, we will be teaching new TDG members this new culture — by example. In this way, our TDG legacy will pass through many generations.
Are you interested?
Published on Medium 2023
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