Unpack politics, reverse polarization, empower voters (yeah, including you!)
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You will never fully understand politics until you understand the needs politics serves. Yes, a bold statement coming from someone you don’t even know. But I stand by it, boldly. To truly understand politics, start with your needs. Those messy subjective things that sometimes pull into irrational actions. Needs come first. Rationally chosen political arguments come after, to serve those needs. By unpacking the needs that fuel politics, you position yourself to reverse stifling polarization. By respecting each other’s differing needs, you empower the “politics” within us all. This presentation summarizes a more detailed approach in Defusing Polarization: Understanding Divisive Politics, at https://www.udemy.com/defusing-polarization-understanding-divisive-politics/?couponCode=PRICE-A_044.99. You can read more about Empower Politics (or listen to me read it) at https://www.valuerelating.com/ep00.
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Unpack politics, reverse polarization, empower voters (yeah, including you!)
- 2. I need you to understand me. You just don’t understand. You’re just a bigot! I need you to understand me. You just don’t get us. You’re a snowflake!
- 7. I feel my ability to freely function being tyrannized by government force. I feel painfully oppressed from subtle forms of persisting discrimination
- 8. 2) 1)
- 12. 2
- 13. 1
- 16. 2
- 19. 3
- 43. debating political ideas as if they are objective reasons all must accept listening for the delicate needs behind the hardened shell of political rhetoric
- 44. debating political ideas as if they are objective reasons all must accept arguing beliefs with defensive certainty, masking subjectively experienced needs listening for the delicate needs behind the hardened shell of political rhetoric relating honestly and humbly the different but normal ways we experience our needs
- 45. debating political ideas as if they are objective reasons all must accept arguing beliefs with defensive certainty, masking subjectively experienced needs reject others for not changing their minds after attempts of persuasion listening for the delicate needs behind the hardened shell of political rhetoric relating honestly and humbly the different but normal ways we experience our needs embrace others after realizing their experience of needs cannot readily change
- 46. debating political ideas as if they are objective reasons all must accept arguing beliefs with defensive certainty, masking subjectively experienced needs reject others for not changing their minds after attempts of persuasion generalizing what should be done, as if one-size-fits-all universally listening for the delicate needs behind the hardened shell of political rhetoric relating honestly and humbly the different but normal ways we experience our needs embrace others after realizing their experience of needs cannot readily change specifying what’s best in each instance, respecting case-by-case situations
- 47. debating political ideas as if they are objective reasons all must accept arguing beliefs with defensive certainty, masking subjectively experienced needs reject others for not changing their minds after attempts of persuasion generalizing what should be done, as if one-size-fits-all universally demanding value for own team, while demeaning outgroup members listening for the delicate needs behind the hardened shell of political rhetoric relating honestly and humbly the different but normal ways we experience our needs embrace others after realizing their experience of needs cannot readily change specifying what’s best in each instance, respecting case-by-case situations offering value to all in need, inspiring reciprocation to sustain value
- 48. debating political ideas as if they are objective reasons all must accept arguing beliefs with defensive certainty, masking subjectively experienced needs reject others for not changing their minds after attempts of persuasion generalizing what should be done, as if one-size-fits-all universally demanding value for own team, while demeaning outgroup members focusing more on short-term relieving of pain than long-term resolving of needs listening for the delicate needs behind the hardened shell of political rhetoric relating honestly and humbly the different but normal ways we experience our needs embrace others after realizing their experience of needs cannot readily change specifying what’s best in each instance, respecting case-by-case situations offering value to all in need, inspiring reciprocation to sustain value focusing more on long-term resolving of needs than short-term relieving of pain
- 49. debating political ideas as if they are objective reasons all must accept arguing beliefs with defensive certainty, masking subjectively experienced needs rejecting others for not changing their minds after attempts of persuasion generalizing what should be done, as if one-size-fits-all universally demanding value for own team, while demeaning outgroup members focusing more on short-term relieving of pain than long-term resolving of needs sliding into polarized opposites while taking little if any responsibility listening for the delicate needs behind the hardened shell of political rhetoric relating honestly and humbly the different but normal ways we experience our needs embracing others after realizing their experience of needs cannot readily change specifying what’s best in each instance, respecting case-by-case situations offering value to all in need, inspiring reciprocation to sustain value focusing more on long-term resolving of needs than short-term relieving of pain bridging dysfunctional polarization with one loving step at a time
- 50. debating political ideas as if they are objective reasons all must accept arguing beliefs with defensive certainty, masking subjectively experienced needs reject others for not changing their minds after attempts of persuasion generalizing what should be done, as if one-size-fits-all universally demanding value for own team, while demeaning outgroup members focusing more on short-term relieving of pain than long-term resolving of needs sliding into polarized opposites while taking little if any responsibility exaggerate the worst in your foes, while judging own group by best intentions listening for the delicate needs behind the hardened shell of political rhetoric relating honestly and humbly the different but normal ways we experience our needs embrace others after realizing their experience of needs cannot readily change specifying what’s best in each instance, respecting case-by-case situations offering value to all in need, inspiring reciprocation to sustain value focusing more on long-term resolving of needs than short-term relieving of pain bridging dysfunctional polarization with one loving step at a time humbly admit all bear impactful weaknesses
- 51. debating political ideas as if they are objective reasons all must accept arguing beliefs with defensive certainty, masking subjectively experienced needs reject others for not changing their minds after attempts of persuasion generalizing what should be done, as if one-size-fits-all universally demanding value for own team, while demeaning outgroup members focusing more on short-term relieving of pain than long-term resolving of needs sliding into polarized opposites while taking little if any responsibility exaggerate the worst in your foes, while judging own group by best intentions hate the politically different listening for the delicate needs behind the hardened shell of political rhetoric relating honestly and humbly the different but normal ways we experience our needs embrace others after realizing their experience of needs cannot readily change specifying what’s best in each instance, respecting case-by-case situations offering value to all in need, inspiring reciprocation to sustain value focusing more on long-term resolving of needs than short-term relieving of pain bridging dysfunctional polarization with one loving step at a time humbly admit all bear impactful weaknesses love the politically different
- 52. debating political ideas as if they are objective reasons all must accept arguing beliefs with defensive certainty, masking subjectively experienced needs reject others for not changing their minds after attempts of persuasion generalizing what should be done, as if one-size-fits-all universally demanding value for own team, while demeaning outgroup members focusing more on short-term relieving of pain than long-term resolving of needs sliding into polarized opposites while taking little if any responsibility exaggerate the worst in your foes, while judging own group by best intentions hate the politically different listening for the delicate needs behind the hardened shell of political rhetoric relating honestly and humbly the different but normal ways we experience our needs embrace others after realizing their experience of needs cannot readily change specifying what’s best in each instance, respecting case-by-case situations offering value to all in need, inspiring reciprocation to sustain value focusing more on long-term resolving of needs than short-term relieving of pain bridging dysfunctional polarization with one loving step at a time humbly admit all bear impactful weaknesses love the politically different
Editor's Notes
- You think you understand POLITICS? So why are we in such a polarized mess?
- What if we got POLITICS all wrong? Hi. I’m Steph Turner of Value Relating, a new kind of nonpartisan political consultancy service. We dare to disrupt polarizing politics with a radical loving approach. We dare to understand and relate to all sides. We dare to understand needs like no one before, applying “anakelogy” (the study of need).
- Is politics really about debating with political reasoning what’s arguably best for all? Or could politics run deeper than this popular narrative?
- NO! Political debating is mostly fake. Politics definitely runs deeper, down where your vulnerabilities can safely hide behind shared political arguments.
- Politics is about your inflexible needs. That’s the missing ingredient in almost every discussion about politics. It’s. About. Needs. Failing to start with our inflexible needs pulls politics quickly off track. To fully understand politics requires getting into the skin of each political outlook and seeing how it “rationally” addresses their particular set of irrational needs.
- Political problems persist because your needs and my needs ... Needs come first, and they’re often quite messy. So we GUARD them with our POLITICAL OPINIONS.
- Political problems persist because your needs and my needs do not cater to rational thinking. Contrary to the popular narrative, you don’t rationally choose your political opinions; you need your politics to ease your specific set of needs. As the other side need theirs for an opposing set of necessities. It’s time for a definition of politics that respects our diverse set of VULNERABLY FELT irrational NEEDS.
- Ready for an illuminating definition? You will not find this definition anywhere but from us. So here goes, in three helpful parts: Politics is…
- Politics is… the art of generalizing by not getting too specific.
- Politics is… the art of generalizing how to agreeably address needs and usually only those you’re most familiar.
- Politics is… the art of generalizing how to agreeably address needs in differing social situations. It’s. About. Needs. And it sure can be hard to be agreeable about each other’s differing needs.
- Let’s pierce our claws into each clause. One at a time.
- Politics is… the art of generalizing. You generalize to avoid divisive specifics necessary to build coalitions. You also generalize to apply to as many as possible (strengths in numbers).
- Politics is… the art of generalizing. But you risk slipping into overgeneralizing. “The worst among them is typical of all of them,” or so it seems. So you let yourself believe falsehoods about the other side. Here’s a safe generalization: this rings true for all political outlooks.
- Politics is… the art of generalizing. Of course, they overgeneralize about you. They claim you’re no better than your weakest link. You shrug it off as misunderstanding your best intensions, with the sweetest sounding reasons. Dig deeper and you will find unmet needs distorting each other’s “arguments.”
- Politics is… about agreeably addressing needs. It’s often easier to agree how to ease the pain of your unmet needs than do the hard work to resolve them. Unfortunately, this leaves your underlying needs to persist with more pain.
- Politics is… about agreeably addressing needs. Mounting pain from your unmet needs distorts your reasoning. Relief takes precedence. Your political arguments focus more on easing your pain, and less on what you can do for others. So you find it easy to blame the other side for the pain your side still suffers.
- Politics is… about agreeably addressing needs. Agreement offers comforting support. “They’re sharing a drink they call loneliness, because it’s better than drinking alone.” You may soon find yourself taking little responsibility for your own needs. “There ought to be a law for that.” So you rely on arguments to avoid feeling vulnerable to others.
- Politics is… in differing social situations. Urban dwellers naturally gravitate to contemporary liberalism. Rural residents naturally gravitate to contemporary conservatism. Differing social situations seed differing needs prioritized in politics.
- Politics is… in differing social situations. Liberalism “liberates” being personally (and now groupishly) different. Conservatism “conserves” social cohesion at the most local level. Liberalism speaks to those with unresolved social needs, like societal inclusion for this differentness from traditional norms. By contrast, conservatism speaks to those with unresolved self-needs, like personal resiliency to mounting social pressures.
- Politics is… in differing social situations. Each side experiences contrasting psychosocial needs. Each side overgeneralizes how to ease the unresolved side. Liberalism overgeneralizes how to serve every diverse group in society. Conservatism overgeneralizes how to apply every individual right. Whether your self-needs are less resolved than your social-needs, or your social-needs are less resolved than your self-needs, this is your “psychosocial orientation.” This inflexible orientation sparks all political differences.
- See any problems here? Your political orientation is the outward expression of your inward psychosocial needs. Your chosen political arguments let you appear respectably rational, at least to others of like mind, to others of similar psychosocial orientation. You risk appearing irrational if directly exposing your vulnerable needs.
- Politics slides into polarization from… It generally feels safer to express your vulnerable needs through the guarded cover of your socially supported political arguments.
- Politics slides into polarization from… the problem of overgeneralizing Lean left? Instead of vulnerably exposing how easily traumatized you are by traditional forms of discrimination, it’s easier to identify as liberal with others supporting your contextual needs.
- Politics slides into polarization from… the problem of overgeneralizing how to relieve your persisting pain Lean right? Instead of vulnerably revealing how you feel your individuality overwhelmed by mounting social pressures, you identify as a conservative with others championing your liberating individual rights.
- Politics slides into polarization from… the problem of overgeneralizing how to relieve your persisting pain when hostile toward others with different type needs. Lean left? Your persisting pain from unresolved social-needs compels you to see conservatives as xenophobes, racists, selfish bigots. Lean right? Your persisting pain from unresolved self-needs compels you to see liberals as lazy, whiners, snowflakes. Until you can look past your own need, you will never really understand the other side.
- Politics slides into polarization because… they can’t change their needs for you, you can’t change your needs for them, so it’s easier to politically hate each other. If it’s all about rationally chosen positions, the assumption goes, then why can’t they choose what you see as right? Of course, they wonder the same about you.
- Let’s shift gears. The difference that matters is not between political views, but between overgeneralizing poorly understood needs and specifically addressing those intractable needs.
- Let’s shift gears. Let’s stop hating one another for what we cannot change. Just as we can’t change skin color or sexual orientation, the psychosocial orientation behind politics cannot be changed at will. Try the serenity of accepting what cannot be changed. You now have the wisdom to appreciate the real difference.
- Let’s shift gears. Let’s stop hating one another for what we cannot change. And start respecting each other’s inflexible needs. Or you will continue fueling polarization, and the hate that flows from it.
- Let’s shift gears. Let’s replace politically privileged hate with mutually empowering love. You know you respond better to love than to hate. So will they. So give it, to attract it.
- In an atmosphere of hate, arguing usually triggers your defensiveness, pulling you to demand or take value from others, when you could be more giving. Something about not asking what your country can do for you, and I trust you know the rest.
- In an atmosphere of hate, arguing usually triggers your defensiveness, drawing out more of your inflexible differences. How about less arguing and more listening to better understand what cannot be changed by argument. And sharing more of your vulnerable side, where argument proves pointless.
- In an atmosphere of hate, heated argument takes. Have you ever argued with someone to convince them you’re more giving and more loving? Yeah, me neither. Giving is an act requiring no argument. Love proves itself.
- Cool understanding gives, in an environment of love. Instead of demanding agreement with your beliefs and values, you seek to understand the experiences shaping their needs, that in turn shaped their political views. You give value. You don’t seek power, you seek their self-empowerment.
- Let’s empower you to replace hate with love. Love is the sweetest remedy. “Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” - MLK
- Empower Politics unleashes the power within others to identify, express, address you know what.
- Empower Politics unleashes the power within others to actively identify their own needs instead of relying on other’s hit-and-miss generalizations.
- Empower Politics unleashes the power within others to actively identify their own needs, then express their own needs instead of others politically speaking for you.
- Empower Politics unleashes the power within others to actively identify their own needs, then express their own needs, and finally address those needs instead of trying to fit your needs in other’s partisan agenda. See how this reverses the polarized politics described earlier.
- Empower Politics spans vertically, from polarized politics at the bottom and toward the top a deeper mutual respect for differing needs. Polarized Politics spans laterally, where mutually defensive posturing avoids addressing vulnerably specific needs at great cost. Let’s shift gears away from polarization and toward a deeper mutual respect.
- Empower Politics: You are worth more than any political dispute. Let’s make sure your value gets properly affirmed. Starting now. Haven’t you waited long enough for the loving respect you and your needs deserve?
- In Polarized Politics, you debate political ideas as if they are objective reasons all must accept. In Empower Politics, you listen for the delicate needs behind the hardened shell of political rhetoric. Which do you prefer?
- In Polarized Politics, you argue beliefs with defensive certainty, masking subjectively experienced needs. In Empower Politics, you relate honestly and humbly the different but normal ways we experience our needs. Which seems better?
- In Polarized Politics, you reject others for not changing their minds after attempts of persuasion. In Empower Politics, you embrace others after realizing their experience of needs cannot readily change. Which do you find more empowering?
- In Polarized Politics, you generalize what should be done, as if one-size-fits-all universally. In Empower Politics, you specify what’s best in each instance, respecting case-by-case situations. Which would do more to resolve needs?
- In Polarized Politics, you demand value for own team, while demeaning outgroup members. In Empower Politics, you offer value to all in need, inspiring reciprocation to sustain value. Which would you have others do for you?
- In Polarized Politics, you focus more on short-term relieving of pain than long-term resolving of needs. In Empower Politics, you focus more on long-term resolving of needs than short-term relieving of pain. Which would you prefer?
- In Polarized Politics, you slide into polarized opposites while taking little if any responsibility. In Empower Politics, you bridge dysfunctional polarization one loving step at a time. Which sounds better?
- In Polarized Politics, you exaggerate the worst in your foes, while judging your own group by your best intentions. In Empower Politics, you humbly admit we all bear impactful weaknesses. Which serves you better?
- In Polarized Politics, you hate the politically different. In Empower Politics, you love the politically different. Ready to prioritize love?
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- Eager to delve deeper into this need-based grasp of politics? We’re just skimming the surface here. There’s a fascinating adventure of learning ahead, waiting for you to get in on this pioneering perspective. Ready to soak in some more?
- Then check out Empower Politics at Value Relating, where a series of articles finally illuminates what politics is truly about—diverse needs. Or see the full course at Udemy…
- Defusing Polarization: Understanding Divisive Politics. Check out the free previews. Enroll into the course at a discount. Complete the course to get involved in Empower Politics, where we’re exploring a new team-based model for political consultancy: engaging average voters (like you) who then receive just compensation for the value they give to office seekers and the like. Billions of dollars pour into campaigns to appeal to your vote. It’s time to give voters something to vote for. Once you grasp politics like no other, you can put yourself in demand to get your share of those billions. Why not?
- Thank you. Check us out at ValueRelating.com. And meet up with us at our socials. Get in on this disruptive innovation, and see some heavy duty love put old politics in its place. One loving step at a time.