As a nation we have been discussing policing and police reform for some time without resolution. Solutions don't come easily forward when both sides of the political spectrum are hyping up their base in ways that are wholly destructive and not in the best spirit for national growth. Radicalism within politics is a serious problem because common sense solutions can't be found when ears are plugged and mouths open. Our national leadership should listen to their inner voice and find pro social positive solutions that benefit the institution of policing while still addressing the needs of our people (duh!).
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| The Blind leading the Blind Pieter Bruegel the Elder 1568 |
For example, If I say I support police and I support protestors that creates a lot of confusion among our radical politicians and supporters (meaning there are lots of great politicians that can think complexly but the loud mouths are often skewing the debate and solutions!) If I say I want to enhance the effectiveness of policing it "must" mean I'm against minority rights. Likewise, if I say we should listen to peaceful protestors that also "for sure" means I'm against law and order! (Do you see the black and white thinking and how people interpret information through their own ideological perceptions? There is no middle ground and thus no solution. 🦇💩🤡 Hyper Politics)
Yet that isn't my interpretation at all. I'm 100% in support of police and I'm 100% in support of peaceful protestors. There is always room for improvement and removing bad/corrupt officers is part of the solution as well as engaging with peaceful protestors to understand their concerns (while arresting those who engage in violence and destruction). The solution isn't left and right ideological radicalism but truth that seeks to find "common sense" solutions.
A study conducted at Cambridge found that radicals have a hard time doing complex mental tasks and simplify their world through black and white type of thinking (You can see a description of the study HERE You can read the actual study HERE.). Before you jump to one of those "radical" conclusions consider while the study is focused on one ideological outlook it really applies to the process of not thinking through complexity which certainly can apply to some Democrats and some Republicans.
We should encourage our leadership to start thinking in non-radical ways and find middle ground where the most rational solutions that will have the widest public support are found (Cognitive Teams). When I say I saw bad police behavior that should be held to account while saying I actively support our police that means what I say it means (Regardless of others confusion.). Those who miscue this information do so because of their own radical ideological bent that favors their limited perspective.
We can't run a nation well without positive well thought out solutions if we are unable/unwilling to think complexly about leading issues of the day. When only 1/4 of people trust what our politicians are saying the problems move way way beyond my comments of supporting police, listening to peaceful protestors, holding to account anarchist violence/protestors, as well as removing "bad apple" officers to maintain institutional integrity (See Pew Study).
Not sure what kind of country you want or who you are going to listen to? We need to deradicalize our politics to find pathways for societal advancement. We might someday look back 100 years in our virtual reality history books and say, "Wow...how simplistic was our thinking during the times of the Covid pandemic. Thank god we evolved as a society and species!" (Vervet Monkeys). More systems thinking is needed in government. Perhaps continued polarization is our solution? 🤷 (Systems Thinking, Perception and Reality Race Relations, Stoic Concept of Justice, Warriors of Past and Future, The Soft Side of Extremism, Conducting Research, Biggest National Threats, Social Stability, Don't Get Upset!
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