Hi dig,
I am looking for a new story from America. One that isn't based on the egocentric narrative of American exceptionalism or unconsidered themes about restrictionless freedom.
Humanism rather than nationalism. Balance rather than principle. Reasoned benevolence and persuasion rather than aggression. Individualism and the public good, not either-or. Escaping from tedious absolutes about the government or guns or speech or the Constitution or taxes or whatever. Providing a decent safety net without making a hammock. Providing opportunities for retraining for those who desire it. Finding a common internal purpose and satisfaction in happiness rather than merely in wealth. Humility rather than hubris.
And then also a return to embracing the future and knowledge and humour and welcoming immigrants and practical problem-solving and scepticism about dogmas and basic decency, which the US has been so good at.
And a review of the funding of politics.
So I am not looking for passion so much as a new conversation about how to preserve the good things from the past (what used to be called conservatism) and to fix failing things and to develop new structures to make the future better (what I think of as progressivism), with everything on the table.
And the dissolution of entrenched positions and propaganda-like information distribution systems.
It's such a mess. And there's such an opportunity. What the heck does America want to be?
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