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"So numerous indeed and so powerful are the causes which
serve to give a false bias to the judgment, that we, upon many occasions, see
wise and good men on the wrong side as well as on the right side of questions
of the first magnitude to society."
Thus wrote Alexander Hamilton in Federalist
1. He continues:
"This circumstance, if duly attended to, would furnish a
lesson of moderation to those who are ever so much persuaded of their being in
the right in any controversy."
Moderation is a vital trait of the leaders of nations,
especially in free nations which are led by the regular citizens.
But
moderation is not passivity or non-involvement.
Our modern free society would
benefit a great deal from two seemingly opposite but actually mutually
beneficial changes:
- the involvement of many more regular citizens in
government policy discussions and choices, and
- the moderating of tones and
deeper thinking by those who are already actively involved.
If you are a loud partisan voice, try to learn three ways in
which your party is wrong and three things the other party has right. If you
honestly look, you'll find them.
If you aren't involved, except perhaps as a voter, study
three important issues which interest you and get online to share your voice.
Make sure you study up and know both (or all) sides of the issues as you weigh
in.
We need more citizens to be actively involved, and we need
the vocal partisans to slow down and think things through deeply.
Even if they
come to the same conclusions they originally held, the thinking process will
inform their contributions and lift the quality of the discussion.
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Social Leader Daily by Oliver DeMille
