[Election-Methods] Partisan Politics

[Fred Gohlke]

Good Evening, Juho

I, too, believe in the power of understanding.  It is the basis for 
everything I write; seeking guidance and instruction wherever I can find 
it and explaining as thoroughly as I'm able, when asked about my views. 
  When we can replace passion with understanding we can apply reason to 
our acts.  Apples fell before Newton was struck by one, but it took 
aeons before anyone could explain why they fell.


re: "If the claim is a valid claim and not too far/theoretical then 
people are likely to get the point sooner or later. There will be also 
other competing arguments, but if people see the new reasoning to be 
superior they will be happy to follow it."

That's true enough, but people will not get the point if the claim is 
not challenged, analyzed and discussed.  You have been looking at this 
idea.  I'm not sure you feel it has merit, but you have, at least, 
considered it.  The process would accelerate if others had the courage 
to submit their challenges.


re: "Often the change comes when things get bad enough."

Yes, it does.  Quite often the change is accompanied by violence.  I'd 
like to avoid that.  I believe humans have the intellect to consider 
'bad' things and devise ways to lessen their impact.  That process has 
been impeded because we have been dominated by one-way communications; 
radio, television, newspapers, books, magazines, and so forth, which do 
not support discourse.  It is only in recent years we've had the means 
to discuss ideas in depth, as we can on this site.  I hope we can use it 
to develop intelligent solutions to the problems of our society.


You say the U. S. is a great nation ... and it is!  I'm proud of my 
homeland, but I'm not blind to its warts.  I hope we can build a better 
America and, through it, a better world.

Fred