Progress Over Politics

I’m friends with people across the political spectrum. It’s common for me for disagree with someone politically. There’s a strong reason that goes beyond disagreeing for the sake of being an automatic debater.

CONTEXT ABOUT CONFORMITY

Humans are programed to fit in. If your banished from the tribe. You’re shunned. This means mental pain of rejection or physical challenges that could lead to death. This is why we conform. To survive.

Kids adopt religious beliefs without developing a real deep understanding about it. People adopt political belief based around their environment they’re raised in. All of this cultivates an identity we try to uphold, and aspires towards, in order to feel like we belong in our niche group.

MEDIA MIND CONTROL

Media has its benefits like informing the public about society’s updates. But I need to criticize it to make a point. Media distorts your perception on the world. If you bad news in the world all the time, you’ll think the outside world is nothing but bad news.

The media is designed to keep your attention to sell advertising space. FOX News and CNN might have the slight variation in the same story — the real major difference is one’s commercial will try to sell you a Ford F-150 and another a Prius. Social media is worse.

Anyone can be a news outlet. Most people don’t verify sources, only read headlines, and misunderstand headlines. The more you consume one category, the more content of that type gets recommended. It’s a feedback loop. Not the good kind either. Not to mention, the more disconnected from the real world you are, the more clouded your mind is.

MY OUTLOOK

I don’t play political status games. I just don’t. I noticed when I’m in a group where the majority of people is one party. The conversation usually skews political at some point. And it’s almost like an obligated ritual to harp on the same things.

I’ve come to realize the group is seeking approval of the tribe. It’s status signaling. The terms and phrases used are echoed from the media they consume. If we want to get deep, nothing is really an original idea — but repeating things for the sake of approval is not in my cards. I enjoy political conversations with third party folks, independents, and crazy people. Anyone who thinks differently really.

PERSPECTIVE MIGHT BE NEEDED

I’ve met right-wing voters that are heavily reliant on democrat policies and tax revenue from blue states. I’ve met left-wing voters who value diversity — only if you’re diverse like them. This could go on and on.

But I can guarantee any individual would find themselves skewing towards the center if they perceive issue from an unclouded mind and experience a world beyond what they know. If city slickers and small owners explored each other’s lives firsthand, I believe we could progress as a nation.

If you’d like to hear my specific political beliefs, feel free to email me!

-Kev