Plumbing needs to become cool…
As someone that enjoys healthy debate, I am typically more than happy to spend minutes if not hours discussing a myriad of topics. Having said that, I have to admit that I tend to get annoyed when conversations about serious topics remain superficial and simple. Serious issues deserve serious thought and effort. While I can understand that it is sometimes more expeditious and/or comfortable to view complicated topics in simple terms, most issues of any consequence cannot be boiled down this way.
I personally do not believe you can talk about crime without factoring in social, cultural and health-related variables. Similarly, talking about bailouts without factoring in all the plumbing of such complex decisions doesn’t do them justice. If we as voters and engaged citizens cannot have open and meaningful dialogue about the issues of the day, I am concerned that we will be fodder for politicians that would prefer to talk in general and simple terms. </Rant over>
December 24th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Boo. Misleading title – I thought it was going to be about how hard it is to find a good plumber.
I find the complexity of most modern issues to be the crux of the issue. We can’t know all the nuances of every issue. It’s possible to go really deep on a few but most of us tend to go for broad knowledge on many.
My challenge is that it is usually those who know enough on a given topic to be dangerous but who sound authoritative in their recitation of “facts” regardless of their actual knowledge level who seem to win the day. This prevents the rest of us from being able to learn more about the issue. Admittedly we all do this as do the media sources we consume.
I kind of wish prior to discussion of a complex issue we were all forced to sit down and read a good primer so we are all on the same level playing field and the discussion could be focused on analysis and recommendations.
Now my rant is over. Happy holidays.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Good points… I guess what I really wanted to push was the idea that we should take the time to inform ourselves on the issues that matter to us. I don’t expect people to become “experts” in any given field, but at least have more than a veneer of knowledge on subjects that are important enough to us to debate on.