Sender: Jim Rough
Subject: Re: Is corrupt money in politics the ONE issue that can unite Americans?
Date: Tue, Mar 25, 2014
Msg: 100874

I like Michael Briand’s points, which I wrote in shortened form below

On Mar 21, 2014, at 11:44 AM, Michael Briand wrote: > I am inclined to the view that transpartisanship in any meaningful sense is unlikely in the absence of a transformation in our most basic beliefs, the ones that are tied closely to our self-conceptions and our conceptions of the good and the right. If these never change, then no important transformation can occur.… I am deeply skeptical that any of these (i.e. The “processes, strategies, and techniques of dialogue ) has the potential to produce the kind of deep transformative change that is needed ….

> For me, failure to provide a plausible account of how our structures of belief, attitude, disposition, and the like can be altered in the face of powerful impediments (affective, cognitive, social, cultural, generational, and so on ad infinitum) greatly diminishes the prospect that anything useful will come of even the most sincere and assiduous reciprocal efforts to reach out to others who do not share one’s own outlook.

I agree. … I have in mind a different model of change and different form of thinking to be facilitated in people. … I believe that transformation happens when people face and creatively overcome a crisis. Then structures of belief, attitude, disposition and identity … all change. But with most forms of conversation— like dialogue, deliberation, negotiation, debate, etc. —we ask people to self-manage and to limit their expression of their feelings or advocacy. In the Wisdom Council randomly selected people face crises and unreservedly express their feelings. Because Dynamic Facilitation is used, their comments are incorporated positively and the group achieves win/win shifts and breakthroughs. Unity is a natural result. And so are transformational changes to the people.

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Jim Rough

Center for Wise Democracy. | 360-385-7118 | jim@WiseDemocracy.org| See www.WiseDemocracy.org

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