That's slightly different phrasing than I used in a comment in another diary. I'm not much of a writer at all. I've published one diary here of no consequence (and another that I've been working on forever that I'll likely never push the button on). I've got some comments scattered around threads here and there but I have an overwhelming tendency to keep to myself.
For the first time I can recall recently I'm actually fond of something I've written though -- and it's just that one simple line.
Take the high road and dare them to follow.
I get the fact that there's a lot of passion and intensity behind people's views. How do we go about the task of moving forward on a myriad of issues? How do we undo the damage that's been done in this country, not just in the last decade, but for the last 30 years (and obviously you could go back further on any number of topics)?
I get that politics can be rough, it can get dirty. People with many varied interests and viewpoints contest with others on the best way to fix any problem. The passion I mentioned can often lead to heated debate or outright fighting over a topic. It can be honest debate. It can also be motivated by something else - something less than honest.
I'm convinced that the forces of status quo want to not only see us fighting with those on the right side of the spectrum. They also want to see progressive versus moderate democrats and tea partiers versus moderate republicans (granted a dying breed - in public at least). The more divided we are the easier the conquest. All of us across that spectrum meanwhile are being taken advantage of - unless we're exceptionally wealthy (and immoral) or happen to be a large corporation.
I personally believe that progressive policies are our best way out of the mess we're in. I feel it's the one area that corporatists are the least likely to have influence. In the aforementioned unpublished diary I labled myself as a pragmatic idealist. I will gladly listen to anything that has facts and numbers to back it up (pragmatist)-- as long as it actually helps people (idealist).
Here's where I'm going though. People often disagree. Sometimes vehemently. Sometimes you may question their motives, question what's driving them. As I mentioned I do believe there are a large number of pressures out there trying to create infighting to keep people distracted. It's certainly something to be wary of - but you need to watch out how broad of a brush you use to paint people's motives (and possibly paint them into a corner). You may have a valid point, but if you start throwing the net around with abandon you're going to catch quite a few folks that may honestly disagree with you but don't fit the preconception you're pushing.
And this is where I get to the subject line. There are certainly legitimate complaints out there about the level of discourse in politics -- even if we're just focusing on left vs left at the moment. If you want to call it out, I challenge you to do so without pointing fingers. If you feel that people who disagree with you are largely responsible for it (rightly or wrongly), it doesn't matter. If you feel you've started responding in kind because of their attacks, it doesn't matter. If you want to raise the level of discourse then just do it -- regardless of whether the folks you disagree with follow suit. Do to others as you would have them do to you. What they've actually done is completely irrelevant.
Take the high road and dare them to follow.
There's no reason to call anyone out in a broad sense. There's no reason to point fingers or assign blame. Just do what's right simply because it is right - and challenge everyone to follow you. The honest parties in the debate I suspect will take up that challenge - and do so without feeling like they're being placed on the defensive.
Any that aren't so honest? I suspect their true colors will likely shine through fairly quickly. When they take a wrong turn, challenge them to get back on track without attacking them. They'll either get it or they'll leave themselves hanging out to dry. Either way you'll still have done the right thing.