I just read a brilliant commentary about the current state of US politics, and I couldn’t agree more. Its by Rudy Ruiz, and you can find it here.

I tried to make this point a few months ago, but he does a better job. Our politics are becoming so polarized- not because of inherent differences of morals or judgment, but because we are breeding a kind of extreme political environment. Rudy points to 3 reasons for this: Labels, Lifestyle, and Listening.

The fear of being labeled a “flip flopper” limits our ability to change our minds. Changing our minds is healthy- its part of growing and learning more about the world.

Our lifestyle generates an environment where we get information in bite sized chunks rather than in meaningful dialogue. Even in the media, a “debate” is usually so riddled with standard platform catch phrases, little can be learned about the “other side”.

Finally, we don’t listen to contrary opinions. As Rudy points out, conservatives listen to conservative broadcasts, and liberals listen to liberal broadcasts. I think its natural as humans to do so- We like to be validated in our thinking rather than challenged, and this is a great way to do so. But if that’s all we take in, it comes at a cost.

I have taken conservative talk show hosts to task in the past, and my opinion on that has become even more strong. Conservative political entertainers such as Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck do not help their audiences “listen” to the issues. They aid in the unhealthy polarization. Liberal media voices are the same- Micheal Moore or Amy Goodman of Democracy Now don’t promote an environment of listening, of collaboration, or of middle ground.  When we only listen to one side (and when that side is paid to incite anger and hatred for ratings) we don’t learn anything.  Just as little could be learned about world politics by only paying attention to a single nation dictator’s propaganda, little can be learned about reality be listening to only one view.

At this point, there are two options.  The polarization will become so strong that it tears the nation apart, or the polarization becomes so strong that enough people stop listening to either side.  The latter would be a great big convergence of independents right smack in the middle.  I hope its the latter.