[EM] (3) MJ -- The easiest method to 'tolerate'

[Fred Gohlke]

Good Morning, Kevin

I think voters will collaborate if their efforts have a tangible effect. 
  In the U. S., party politics have excluded non-partisans from the 
political process for so long that many of them have been schooled in 
the art of disinterest.  Such people will not trust an inclusive process 
until they have seen it work.

When we devise an inclusive process, some people will participate, 
others will learn to participate, and some will never participate.  From 
the point of view of the community, those who will not participate in 
its government add no value to the political process.  However, all the 
rest do, so the first step in devising an inclusive process must be to 
distinguish between the two types of citizens.  It has been shown, by 
Archon Fung of Harvard University and many others, that, when the people 
who want to participate in the political process deliberate on issues 
that concern the community, their efforts are productive.

Those concerned with common problems need not be forced to collaborate. 
  All that's necessary is an environment where collaboration is both 
possible and productive.  As you say, providing such an environment is 
an interesting topic.  It will be different than what we're used to 
because, as John Dewey suggested almost 100 years ago, correcting the 
ills of democracy will require new machinery.

I hope we can pursue the idea of conceiving that machinery.

Best wishes,

Fred Gohlke