[busssard]

So there is this proof by Nobel Laureate Arrow, that polarization of democracy leads to dictatorship. So the most important thing we can do is to try to bridge the divide. https://telegra.ph/Arrows-theorem-and-why-polarisation-of-vi...

[baikamur]

Arrow tells us that no voting system is perfect. But he doesn't say that no system is good enough. Other results suggest that the right kind of method can reduce polarization.[1]

In addition, "dictatorship" is kind of a technical term: picking a voter at random and electing their favorite is a dictatorship in the technical sense, but not in the colloquial sense.

And it doesn't as much say "polarization leads to dictatorship" as "Condorcet cycles lead to dictatorship". If voters were somehow forbidden from creating majority cycles, then the Condorcet relation passes all of his criteria. In practice, Condorcet cycles are extremely rare, at least under current conditions.[2]

[1] https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10602-022-093... [2] https://www.cs.cornell.edu/andru/papers/civs24/

[busssard]

thanks for the added context i had not heard about Condorcet, i will check it out

[smallmancontrov]

Bridge-building is easy to exploit. Sometimes punishing bad behavior is more important. Negotiating with a toddler will teach you this.

[squigz]

Yes, I acknowledged this in another comment.

The thing is, punishment cannot strictly be punitive - there must be an opportunity to learn and grow, otherwise nothing changes.

When we "punish bad behavior" in adults by, for example, sending them to jail for crimes, without providing counselling and other services to get their life back on track, where does that lead us?

When we "punish bad behavior" in adults by, for example, kicking them out of the family for shitty views, where does that lead us?

The trick, as I highlighted, is walking the line between these 2 things. Many people don't, and just jump to the punishment.

[busssard]

as the other reply, you should still teach your toddler why they should not do certain things. That might be the bridge building. Not demonizing a person for their needs, but instead making sure that their strategy of getting their needs met is criticized and yes maybe punished. BUt still acknowledging their need in the process.

[goatlover]

And which side has been driving the majority of the polarization over the past several decades? It's right-wing billionaires and far right groups that don't care for liberal democracies. There's plenty of things to criticize the Democratic party in the US over, but at least they're not trying to reshape America into some form of Christian Nationalism or techno fascism.