America is headed for civil war.

[originalpckelly]

I have said this for a couple of months now, and everyday I am more convinced, that my once outlandish notion is becoming reality. There is something fundamentally wrong with this country: the democratic process has halted; it has broken down. When people disrespect each other as people on either side of the political spectrum have, there is little hope that solutions or compromises may be arrived at.

Many people reading this right now cannot believe I, a progressive Democrat, would ever even conceivably talk about compromise with the other side. At one time, not too long ago, I would agree and criticize believing as I now do. I probably would have said, "What are you fucking nuts? Compromise with this dictator in the WH?"

I know how you feel about compromise, because I felt that way.

Obviously something changed, or I would not be writing this. I have been thinking about the fundamental aspects of democracy, I have not left any stone unturned in this process. I didn't take any preconception for granted. A result of that process, I realized that compromise is sometimes democracy and that solutions are democracy.

The unwillingness to compromise means that you, and my former self, were/are willing to force our views and will upon people whom disagree with us.

That is the very definition of tyranny.

Of course we all know that the Republicans are very much guilty of the same thing. In fact they started it and have been doing more of it than we do. But bitching about that fact won't make our nation any better and won't avoid the eventual tragedy of civil war.

Today I read this article posted by DeepModem Mom, it is from the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/29/fashion/29rift.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Why it is the fashion section and not on the front page, I do not know. It confirmed the suspicions I have long held.

People aren't really getting along, unless they are totally apolitical. That talk about America not really being divided is a bunch of bullshit, only the people who aren't involved in politics, the ones who probably don't vote anyway are the ones not involved or divided. But political people are divided.

We treat each other with no respect whatsoever, and in turn that pretty much guarantees we ourselves will not receive respect.

We call each other names, and behind those words, there is anger, there is hatred, and purely inhuman viscousness.

The number of disagreements is growing, and none of them are being solved. These unresolved disagreements are slowly tearing this nation apart, but lately that tear is growing faster.

I fear how fast is shall continue to grow, and I fear the result of the tear being so large.
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That tear can be mended.

Bill Clinton had the best line for this a few years back: "There is nothing wrong with American, which cannot be fixed by what is right with America."

That is the spirit of my efforts and the following recommendations:
If we cannot talk to each other, if we cannot debate the issues in a civil manner, the debates will not happen, and the solutions formed in those debates will not be forthcoming.

I think the best way we can manage to change this trend is by beginning a series of large free speech debates and seminars. Where people can come for free (or a small fee to cover the training) and receive anger management training, and learn how to maintain respect for someone they disagree with.

Then I think we ought to allow people to give people a chance to speak to one another. Maybe we could have a lunch where there could be informal debates, or more formal and moderated debates where people can record any serious compromises that may arise.


The weird thing is that these debates in informal settings really do have a national impact, as much or more so than politicians or talking heads debating each other on TV. If you think about it, it does make sense. If 300 million people debate each other, that ought to have more power than a few hundred politicians and pundits. It is the power of democracy.

That old saying "two heads are better than one" applies in national debates. When the number of people making decisions goes down, the likelihood of those decisions being good ones goes down as well.

The power of our nation is debate, it is the free exchange of ideas. My goodness, when people avoid debating each other for fear of ruining family or other relationships, that cannot be considered the free exchange of ideas.

I'd say that is the most expensive exchange of ideas in this nation's history since the time right before the Revolutionary or the Civil Wars.

And just as it became a price paid only in blood, it may become so today. It doesn't seem possible, but indeed there have already been acts of violence. These were radicals, not the majority of politically oriented people, but they were the precursors to today's problems. I'm talking about the bombing and arson of abortion clinics. Or on our side the bombing or arson of structures used for anti-environmentalist goals.

Now they were radicals, but violence can quickly swing out of control, just look at Iraq.

I don't want this sort of thing to happen in America, as I have no doubt you don't want it to either.

Just remember that your debates and their civility or lack thereof may cause that to happen or not.