How to make better societal decisions
The early TDG must consciously and deliberately build a culture of consultation. This culture is one of the four salient features of the TDG.
So we should put in a clause or two about consultation into the local TDG constitutions. But we cannot enforce that clause. Consultation comes only when the participants want to engage in this process.
I have briefly summarized “consultation” as follows:
Consultation is the combining of knowledge, experience, and wisdom of the participants into one voice.
If this sounds too utopic to you, this is probably because our current political culture — at least displayed in the media — is exactly opposite of the above phrase. Our real-life examples are people who insist that they are right and the people they disagree with are wrong. The victors in such a discussion are the ones who can shout the longest and loudest. We have been inculcated that this conflict is the only way to resolve our differences.
The early TDG builders must recognize that we must replace this bad example of decision making with a better way, a more consultative way. A kinder way. A wiser way.
The writing of a local TDG constitution is a forum where the early builders can practice. A constitution will have 50 or so clauses. The nature of these clauses is such that none of them will be “life-or-death” or “the-sky-is-falling.” This gives the early builders the freedom not to be so bound into any one position. They can seriously consider what other builders are thinking. When every builder puts out their opinions and perspectives, there will be a little consultative magic that finds the best consensus.
Undoubtedly, some builders might not like some of that consensus. If they believe that they have had the opportunity to speak and believe they have been listened to, they will more readily consent to the will of the majority.
In this way, the 50 or so clauses will be built one-by-one. Each clause is a practice opportunity for consultation. By the end of this process, the builders will have enhanced their consultative skills. They will be better prepared for the next big TDG project.
With this first constitution, the early builders will gain a sense that consultation is not an unreachable utopia.
Published on Medium 2024
Addendum
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