How do we fix the current political climate?

[RDKirk]

And how do you interpret this verse
Genesis 2:7
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

That's called poetry.

Actually, it steps from scientific truth of what was done ("dust", yes, scientific truth, particularly compared to other creation myths) to divine revelation (why and to what purpose) that is expressed poetically.

The bible spends very little ink or intent on the mechanics of the natural world and it actually directs us to observe that part for ourselves (Psalm 19). The bible is more concerned with a particular philosophy of living in the natural world (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

 

[chevyontheriver]

And also, Americans are too fat, lazy, and addicted to our lives of ease. There is also not a serious disenchantment with the current form of government, just the people who happen to be in office in that government at any given moment.

A real civil war would require commitment to years of pain and suffering as well as a genuine disenchantment with the current form of government.

What we have now is a lunatic fringe which is increasing greatly in bellicosity and moderately in size, fed in their extreme philosophies by Internet echo chambers that keep them convinced "The other side is is coming to get you, and they will succeed unless you take action now!"

So the US is going to suffer more lone wolf attacks, but it's never going to scale up to an actual civil war.

I would like to say I am persuaded by your statement here. And yet Germany went from being arguably the most civilized country in the world to a raving murderocracy in a few short years. But maybe you ARE right and we will not have revolution in the streets as much as a 'comfortable' totalitarianism from either the left or the right.

 

[RDKirk]

I would like to say I am persuaded by your statement here. And yet Germany went from being arguably the most civilized country in the world to a raving murderocracy in a few short years. But maybe you ARE right and we will not have revolution in the streets as much as a 'comfortable' totalitarianism from either the left or the right.

When Sasha Obama gets elected president in 2046, we won't see this problem.

Or rather, my children won't see this problem.

 

[durangodawood]

....On full disclosure I was a young earth creationist until I went to college and took some real science and religion courses.

Seems like the proper Christian thing to do is to keep your head down, stick to the Bible, learn as little about the wider world as you can get away with.

 

[JackRT]

To fix the current political crisis I think a good start would be take money out of the picture as far as possible. Eliminate or at least greatly reduce the power of lobbyists by placing severe limits on political campaign contributions by both individuals and organizations of every sort. Similar limits on monies contributed by candidates themselves. Eliminate foreign contributions completely. Limit the length of political campaigning. Eliminate gerrymandering and voter suppression.

 

[expos4ever]

I agree with RDKirk analysis: as the boomers pass into the night, a better day will dawn. And I say this a boomer myself. In the meantime, I fear it is more or less hopeless to try to reason with those who have subjected us all to the indignity and danger of Donald Trump.

 

[expos4ever]

Plus a heaping helping of Dunning Kruger effect.

Indeed. Although fortunate enough to have received a top-flight electrical engineering education at a great school, I would never deign to think I know better than legions of trained biologists when it comes to evaluating the theory of evolution.

 

[cow451]

Seems like the proper Christian thing to do is to keep your head down, stick to the Bible, learn as little about the wider world as you can get away with.

Guess I’m not a proper Christian then. A proper Christian must need to live in a cult enclave.

 

[yougottabekidding]

The world needs to elect a singular person to rule the entire world and decree one religion for all and all part of one political party which will be new. All other religions and political parties will be made illegal. That would end the current political climate.

Stalin tried that - a singular leader decreed one religion and one party to rules the nation. then outlawed political oppositions (Gulags), Then provide socialist agenda's like free health care, free housing, supplemental income, complete control of businesses.

How did that work out?

We need respect for facts, science, evidence-based thinking, and the opinions of trained experts.

This is not to suggest that there are not other problems to fix, such as tribalistic thinking.

Who decides on which 'trained experts' are correct?

And isn't it tribalistic thinking to follow a select group of experts?

 

[expos4ever]

Who decides on which 'trained experts' are correct?

And isn't it tribalistic thinking to follow a select group of experts?

I think your first question presumes that there are issues where there is substantial disagreement among trained experts.

Fair enough, but I was thinking about issues like vaccinations, climate, and evolution where there is basic unanimity among experts.

It is not tribalism to respect expertise. Tribalistic thinking is when you have no reason to believe something other than so doing reinforces your sense of membership in a group. However, there are all sorts of reasons, and obvious ones at that, to respect experts.

 

[yougottabekidding]

Fair enough, but I was thinking about issues like vaccinations, climate, and evolution where there is basic unanimity among experts.

No, no there is not. There are a number of people who are educated, trained and considered experts in their fields who dispute each of those items.

They don't get the press because of the tribalism that surrounds the others, but it doesn't invalidate their expertise.

So who decides who is the one the tribe should follow?

 

[expos4ever]

No, no there is not. There are a number of people who are educated, trained and considered experts in their fields who dispute each of those items.

By any reasonable standard, there is virtual unanimity on these matters.

 

[expos4ever]

They don't get the press because of the tribalism that surrounds the others,...

Do you have any evidence for this claim?

 

[expos4ever]

Then provide socialist agenda's like free health care, free housing, supplemental income, complete control of businesses.

How did that work out?

Very well, actually, at least in terms of how free health care has worked in a large number of prosperous democratic nations worldwide.

 

[RDKirk]

S
And isn't it tribalistic thinking to follow a select group of experts?

What's "tribalistic" about going to a plumber for plumbing problems, an auto mechanic for automobile problems, a doctor for medical problems, tuning in to a meteorologist to hear what next week's weather will be, listening to a senior military commander about the feasibility of attacking a particular country, or a forest ranger about how to avoid setting a forest on fire?

 

[durangodawood]

What's "tribalistic" about going to a plumber for plumbing problems, an auto mechanic for automobile problems, a doctor for medical problems, tuning in to a meteorologist to hear what next week's weather will be, listening to a senior military commander about the feasibility of attacking a particular country, or a forest ranger about how to avoid setting a forest on fire?

For car problems, we should rely on the Bible. Same for wiring a house. Also for French cooking.

 

[yougottabekidding]

What's "tribalistic" about going to a plumber for plumbing problems, an auto mechanic for automobile problems, a doctor for medical problems, tuning in to a meteorologist to hear what next week's weather will be, listening to a senior military commander about the feasibility of attacking a particular country, or a forest ranger about how to avoid setting a forest on fire?

Or going to a group of scientist that have conclusions you tend to agree with.