VI. Step One (drum roll, please)

Productive Political Discussion:  a conversation in which each participant acquires a deeper understanding of the other's point of view, and also of his own.  As the conversation becomes productive, we begin to see the points at which our value systems converge, and division yields to unity as it must.

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Power without responsibility is a threat to our nation.  This notion applies to we, the people, as much as anyone.  With our power to vote comes real responsibility.  I believe the responsibility is two-fold:  First, we have the responsibility to know what it is that we each value.  Second, we have the responsibility to know whether key pieces of legislation actually reflect those values. 

The productive political discussion must therefore put many of our personal values squarely on the table.  While the conversation may seem to begin as "my values versus yours", when it is executed properly it will also identify the values that are ours.

STEPS OF THE PRODUCTIVE POLITICAL DISCUSSION

STEP 1.  Say what you value. 

How freaking easy is that?  Ok, there’s a little more to it: When you say what you value, it needs to be in the context of a problem with which society is grappling (healthcare, for instance).  You need to express what you value in terms of an “attribute” you want to see in the legislation. 

Now, what’s an attribute?  It’s just an inherent characteristic you want the legislation to possess in order for that legislation to be consistent with what you value.  Remember, it’s not our job to actually write the laws.  It’s our job to ensure they reflect what we value - to examine legislation for its alignment with our individual moral code. 

For example, you might say, “Any federal legislation on healthcare should be non-coercive.”  The attribute is “non-coercive”. 

Here are a few more examples of things that would be legislative attributes. The [specified law] should: 

-preserve choice

-be non-coercive

-lower taxes

-foster competition

It can be anything you value in the context of the law being discussed.  Those listed above are the core attributes that I personally require because they are consistent with some of my core values.  I try to bring these up in conversation so that the other person has something to react to.  Their reaction is the first step in getting their values on the table.  For example, a couple people I've talked with reacted strongly to the "lower taxes" attribute.  Now, they didn't say, "Well, Craig, I actually would prefer to see taxes go up."  No, it's more like, "What!? LOWER taxes?? Are you SERIOUS?  So those greedy Wall Street bastards will NEVER have to pay their fair share!?!?"  Or something like that.  But that's how it goes, and the fact is that it's progress in that we've each put values on the table.  I value tax reductions and they value tax increases of some type.  While it doesn't yet represent a united front, it is absolutely progress. Finding values that are in conflict happens... a lot... and it brings us one step closer to realizing our objective, which is to identify those values that we share. 

TIP #1: Keep the conversation focused on legislation, not politicians or parties.  The legislation is all that matters.  It doesn't matter how great or terrible the person in office might be.  The only thing that matters to any of us is the legislation that will govern our lives.