I think the problem is that 145-plus million American voters cannot agree on the facts. This problem leads to several symptoms, including widespread polarization, hostile demonstrations, friction between friends, family, and neighbors, differences on important issues, including Social Security, health care, immigration, and apparent allegiances to political parties instead of to our flag and our country.
When I flip through TV news channels or read various print news, the “news” is as different as night and day. One source discusses issues in an entirely different perspective and tone than another source. It is generally very clear that there is no agreement on the underlying facts.
We need to identify what we agree on. After we get some consensus on a baseline then we can start some mature discussions on how to proceed as a country. It is okay for political parties to have different ideas on the details of how to proceed, but we must agree on the baseline facts of our current situation and we need to agree in general terms on where we want our country and our planet to be in the next half.
Our “news” needs to be legitimate and factual. Our “news” outlets all need to agree on the facts of the existing situations and the facts of the various political proposals.
If we were all in agreement on the “facts” then I suspect the 80/20 rule would apply and we would agree on most issues.
How do we agree on the facts?
RICHARD MOORE
Chichester