We've been working on getting consensus for centuries in the US.
It ain't easy.
And it's not fun.
Consensus doesn't mean that everyone is happy-- what it means is that most folks agree on a solution that best accommodates all.
I think we've lost the fine art of consensus.
Can we re-learn how to achieve consensus?
I think yes.
But a lot of folks have gotta wanna.
And right now, they don't.
-Russ H.
This is the point I think is very relevant right now. Obviously, people are feeling pressure and seem more willing to go to the middle ground. But, so far, that attitude has not moved into the body politic.
Locally, we have a mayoral election coming up, and I am very interested to see at this level if our town has a more willing bent toward a "we" are more important than "me" community.
At state and fed levels the lag time from now to election time is longer, and I have never been sure that letter writing campaigns had much impact. And I really wonder how serious things have to get before the U.S. as a whole tastes the bitter medicine we have coming, and we all agree to do it. (I think the last time was WW II, and, no, 9/11 does not count)
Basically, with all the tough decision items in front of us (Social Security solvency, Medicare, fed & state deficits) it may take a large global crisis to pull us all back on track together.