Disagreement
Seems like people have forgotten how to come to agreement about anything anymore.
Two of the most important issues facing all of us, nationally and internationally—heath care reform and human-induced global climate change—have so far stymied all attempts by allegedly reasonable people to arrive at some sort of plans or programs that are generally acceptable to all.
It appears to me that everyone’s forgotten that if anyone’s going to get anything they want, they’re going to not get everything they want. Sharing is caring, remember, kids? And successful negotiations, as I’ve always understood them, mean that everyone ends up equally dissatisfied.
Republicans are apparently prepared to totally scuttle any chance at comprehensive health care reform just because—I’m not sure why: something to do with being big babies?
And the US and China seemed determined to fail to reach some sort of accord on reducing greenhouse gasses, because—and I’m clutching at straw here—I dunno: we want to keep driving big cars and they’d like to continue manufacturing more and more plastic shit?
I’m not saying that there aren’t causes worth fighting for—no one, for instance would ever get me to compromise on the all-important issue of headless vs. threaded headsets on bicycles—but most of the time, it’s more prudent to just live with something that’s imperfect rather than getting nothing because your ideals are too high.
At least that’s what I keep telling my wife, bada-boom, bada-bing!
Of course, I blame the internet, which allows everyone to too easily talk and listen only to people who have the same views they do; climate change deniers can go the rest of their pathetic little lives never having to read or listen to a single sensible word on the subject of anthropogenic climate change; it’s no wonder, therefore, that they won’t budge an inch, even as the planet crumbles around them.
Frankly, I don’t get it; it’s not like they’re arguing over headsets.
Two of the most important issues facing all of us, nationally and internationally—heath care reform and human-induced global climate change—have so far stymied all attempts by allegedly reasonable people to arrive at some sort of plans or programs that are generally acceptable to all.
It appears to me that everyone’s forgotten that if anyone’s going to get anything they want, they’re going to not get everything they want. Sharing is caring, remember, kids? And successful negotiations, as I’ve always understood them, mean that everyone ends up equally dissatisfied.
Republicans are apparently prepared to totally scuttle any chance at comprehensive health care reform just because—I’m not sure why: something to do with being big babies?
And the US and China seemed determined to fail to reach some sort of accord on reducing greenhouse gasses, because—and I’m clutching at straw here—I dunno: we want to keep driving big cars and they’d like to continue manufacturing more and more plastic shit?
I’m not saying that there aren’t causes worth fighting for—no one, for instance would ever get me to compromise on the all-important issue of headless vs. threaded headsets on bicycles—but most of the time, it’s more prudent to just live with something that’s imperfect rather than getting nothing because your ideals are too high.
At least that’s what I keep telling my wife, bada-boom, bada-bing!
Of course, I blame the internet, which allows everyone to too easily talk and listen only to people who have the same views they do; climate change deniers can go the rest of their pathetic little lives never having to read or listen to a single sensible word on the subject of anthropogenic climate change; it’s no wonder, therefore, that they won’t budge an inch, even as the planet crumbles around them.
Frankly, I don’t get it; it’s not like they’re arguing over headsets.
posted by Professor Dave at 10:49 AM
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