(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...Throughout this past week, I’ve been thinking much about how America was founded. There’s plenty of articles written lately on patriotism, on liberty. From Time Magazine’s cover piece to essays on Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison.
If you read the great documents such as the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Federalist Papers, you get a sense that these men were perhaps America’s real “Greatest Generation”. They not only understood the beauty of the philosophies of Locke and Voltaire and Rousseau, but were able to translate them into action, establishing a new nation based upon freedom and liberty.
They were also amongst the most elite of their time. The wealthiest, the most educated, the most “connected”.
A study put out this week by George Washington University’s Henry Farrell, John Sides, and Eric Lawrence bring out to the surface an issue that I think is problematic for American politics and culture: the polarization of the political blogosphere. This had become more evident over the past few years as the country’s political dialogue has grown ever more coarse.
The study finds that those that participate in the political blogosphere are more likely to be further to the right or further to the left, more rigid in their beliefs, less likely to engage in discussions across political ideologies and (as I have personally discovered in my own involvement on blogs) less tolerant opposing views.
I find this troublesome because their study also shows that those whose views are more tolerant, less rigid, and less idealogical are less likely to be politically involved as those who take an active participation in the blogosphere. That’s not good. Here’s why…
Solving Issues Becomes More Difficult
National Security. Iraq. Health care. Social Security. Competitiveness. Climate Change. All important vital issues. All issues that on some level, effect practically each and every one of us. Problems that need to be addressed and solved.
In the current political environment, it seems that most major issues have become a hot potato, a semi-equivalent of abortion. Question the legitimacy of going into Iraq? Many in the GOP said that was traitorous. Re-examine Social Security and take a look at personal accounts? That’s a complete betrayal of our elderly.
These types of charges are often fortified in the blogosphere. In fact, they electrify the blogosphere. We can’t solve issues if we can’t address them.
Never a Consensus, Always a Battle
Solving complex issues is often done by consensus. It occurs when everyone swallows their pride a bit and gives in on key points for the greater good of passing meaningful legislation. The reason we can’t solve issues is because we can’t address them. We can’t address them because we seem to now have two opposing sides who would rather not have consensus.
If bloggers never take time to engage the other side, it will only serve to increase the desire engage in battle and not develop consensuses that are often so important to solve our challenges.
The Battle Becomes the Cause
At times now I think that both sides are more interested in entering political battles in order to trash the other side rather than address the issues they’re trying to supposedly solve. This essentially makes solving the problems we face TWO challenges away. The first is trying to overcome the lack of desire to reach consensus, the second is the stronger desire to bash the other side rather than even think of trying to reach a consensus.
It Will Increase Bigotry and Prejudice
A segregated blogosphere is a prejudiced blogosphere. It’s not just race, it’s about being anti- the other side. It’s not about just those on the left being discriminated. It’s everyone.
We Won’t Learn From One Another
Will a lefty be willing to learn how the surge is working in some areas of Afghanistan? Will a righty be willing to examine how discrimination still hurts minorities? I doubt it. Not when leading voices out there are the Malkins and the Kos’.
It Will Decrease Citizen Involvement
I’ve constantly heard people get disgusted about political discussion around elections because both sides continually trash one another. It’s getting worse with bloggers as they treat rumors as truth.
Filed under: 2008 Elections, Blog Messaging, Blog of Personality, Blogger Influence, Blogging, Blogging Policies, Blogosphere, Blowback, Cult of Personality, Political Blogs
Loading ...
Nice post Jonathan (I found you via Chris Abraham’s FB link.)
Some additional thoughts: Visible friction where before it was thoughts and discussion in a vacuum or perhaps just echo chamber–unchallenged and self-perpetuating. Transparency was never supposed to mean “neat” and orderly.
I always try to remember the term “polite society” and how certain things were just not said in its confines. Well, now, without the “manners’ barrier that precludes people from showing their butts in public discussion, there are rampant examples of bloggers flinging themselves off the deep end - the Frost SCHIP family and their supposed lap of luxury; Cpl. Scott Beauchamp’s “traitorous” reports from the Iraqi street; endless fooferaw about climate, energy.
You can make a comparison between Moulitsas and Malkin if you want, but rarely would any of Malkin’s (and her spectrum-mates’) assertions stand up to the scrutiny that so much of what Kos’ members apply to their own cohort’s claims. Facts aside, there are similarities, mostly emotional. And emotion is primary no matter your Degrees and Credentials.
Your “battle becomes the cause” is insightful I think for a simple reason. Most people don’t have the facts or the confidence to launch into debates on policy or complexities that most issues carry. But, most people want to identify with a group, it’s supposed purpose, and that group’s ‘elevating” reflection upon themselves. (Some even call this “Brand.”) So, here we have lesser equipped people needing to “contribute” but minus the additive or knowledge depth that would mark them as notable or leaderly. What do they do? Resort to the only tools they’re graced and practiced with–the lesser social skills that Jr High might perfect: criticize and police appearance, form, style, word-choice, friend-choice, etc.
Yes, trivialities that a mean the world to a 14-year old. I guess that last teen example carries into your “segregated blogosphere”" Have you noticed that 14-year olds (I have 1) also huddle together like penguins at swim meets, in malls, at any gatherings? The self-selecting nature of people (and their brand affinity, search for security) is not new. Blogs just make it more transparent in the realm of ideas and either admirable, laughable or tragic depending on your view. That it is open and plain to see and judge for oneself, I think, has positive long-term implications no matter how messy the wreckage of the journey.
best
mark