Thinking Citizen Blog — The Party of We and Yes
Thinking Citizen Blog — Sunday is Political Process, Campaign Strategy, and Candidate Selection Day
Today’s Topic: The Party of We and Yes
So, what shall we name the new party? In case you’ve forgotten, I launched a third party in 2018 — the Education First Party. Five years later, the party is still a party of one. Perhaps the problem was the name. How about the the Party of We and Yes? The idea being that the key to a better America and a better world are to focus on the positive and the shared? Or perhaps the Gratitude First Party is better as it focuses on the idea that gratitude is the heart of ethics which is the only solid foundation upon which to build a vision for the future? Or perhaps the Kids First Party because, in the end, its all about the kids? Experts — please chime in. Correct, elaborate, elucidate.
THINKING CITIZEN — should the focus be on the thinking thing?
1. Should the focus be on the “thinking citizen” test? That is the “Principles, Facts, and Solutions” test?
2. Should the second focus be on the importance of decision making and the power of the Orion method of making disciplined decisions?
3. Should the third focus be on the importance of collaboration in the process or iterative distillation?
NB: And the fourth focus on the provisional nature of all decisions pending new facts and deeper thinking?
THE ORION PARTY — a picture is worth a thousand words
1. And this seven star hour glass formation is the most spectacular show available to earthlings.
2. Most humans have not seen it.
3. It is the best metaphor ever for the meaning of critical thinking — daily, collaborative, iterative distillation.
THE LADY JUSTICE PARTY — with a twist
1. Talking about justice without talking about gratitude is like talking about Hamlet without mentioning the Prince.
2. We did not earn the right to have 70 trillion cells working in near perfect harmony 24/7 to keep us alive.
3. The first principle of justice is gratitude.
NB: The first principle of justice has been hidden in plain sight.
FOOTNOTE — RUMI’S FIELD
“Out beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field. Meet me there.” Rumi, 1207–1273
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
My spin — then periodically review, re-rank, and exchange your list with those you love. I call this the “Orion Exchange” because seven is about as many as any human can digest at a time. Game?
LAST FOUR YEARS OF POSTS ORGANIZED THEMATICALLY
PDF with headlines — Google Drive
ATTACHMENTS BELOW:
#1 A graphic guide to justice (9 metaphors on one page).
#2 “39 Songs, Prayers, and Poems: the Keys to the Hearts of Seven Billion People” — Adams House Senior Common Room Presentation, (11/17/20)
YOUR TURN
Please share the coolest thing you learned in the last week related to political process or campaign strategy or 2020 candidate selection or anything else for that matter.
This is your chance to make some one else’s day or change their thinking. Or to consolidate in your own memory something worth remembering that might otherwise be lost. Or to clarify or deepen your own understanding of something dear to your heart. Continuity is key to depth of thought.
