I originally posted this as a reply to a thread on another forum but figured I would start a topic here as well...and it is likely an oversimplification of a concept presented by an author.
Basically I saw an interview with an author who was saying that we are oversimplifying just about every problem out there. This is the fault of the media, which is always trying to hit us with a catchy headline no matter how distorted or simplified, politicians, who are always looking for a quick sound bite to get their point across, and of course our own desire to get all of our information as quickly and succinctly as possible. We buy this simplification and are getting more stupid by the minute because of it. The issues in Iraq cannot be simply resolved by a US withdrawal or "staying the course", our immigration problems won't disappear if we erect a fence along the border or if we give amnesty to all that are already here. The list goes on but it's basically true. I see intelligent, well-educated people everywhere discussing issues and reiterating the standard "talking points" from whichever side they support and adopting a right/wrong approach to issues that simply cannot work.
This made a great deal of sense to me, and Individually, I think that can be resolved easily. Stop believing what the pundits tell us and recognize that the issues are complicated, and that what makes sense in one place, may not work at all in another. On a national scale, I think this means effective leadership. True "uniters" that can cross party and ideological boundaries to truly solve problems. The problem that I see now is that I don't see anyone running for office that fits this mold. Maybe it's because I haven't paid enough attention, but what I have seen of each candidate doesn't look good.
Any other thoughts along this line?
Basically I saw an interview with an author who was saying that we are oversimplifying just about every problem out there. This is the fault of the media, which is always trying to hit us with a catchy headline no matter how distorted or simplified, politicians, who are always looking for a quick sound bite to get their point across, and of course our own desire to get all of our information as quickly and succinctly as possible. We buy this simplification and are getting more stupid by the minute because of it. The issues in Iraq cannot be simply resolved by a US withdrawal or "staying the course", our immigration problems won't disappear if we erect a fence along the border or if we give amnesty to all that are already here. The list goes on but it's basically true. I see intelligent, well-educated people everywhere discussing issues and reiterating the standard "talking points" from whichever side they support and adopting a right/wrong approach to issues that simply cannot work.
This made a great deal of sense to me, and Individually, I think that can be resolved easily. Stop believing what the pundits tell us and recognize that the issues are complicated, and that what makes sense in one place, may not work at all in another. On a national scale, I think this means effective leadership. True "uniters" that can cross party and ideological boundaries to truly solve problems. The problem that I see now is that I don't see anyone running for office that fits this mold. Maybe it's because I haven't paid enough attention, but what I have seen of each candidate doesn't look good.
Any other thoughts along this line?