Public discourse on politically contested matters—like climate change, refugees, distribution of resources, etc.—seems to be at a low ebb. We need to find ways to address these issues constructively if we are to have any hope of meeting the challenges of the coming years. But how can we be a part of the solution and not just a part of the problem?
Democracies have little value unless the populace participates. I (probably like many others) am put off from active participation and my cynicism is fed, by the cumbersome nature of government and the lack of cooperation between parties. Does a ‘party system’ have to translate into the circus that we witness in our parliaments?
I guess we once thought of the internet as having some sort of liberating potential, but today it’s pretty clear that, although we can’t live without it, it’s a pretty horrible place (especially if you’re not a straight white guy). When was the last time you saw a woman being harassed by an egg-man on Twitter, and how can we make sure it stops happening?