One of the criticisms of the TDG is that it starts with neighborhood elections. But neighbors do not know each other. Hence they cannot vote wisely for one of their neighbors into the TDG. Certainly, there is no point in voting for any of them. It makes more sense to vote for a glossed-over image the political parties proffer for us, right?
I say: “Get out and talk to your neighbors once in a while.”
True it is that the automobile and internet have given us communities that are not so geographically connected. These communities have people that are more like us than our neighbors. So we enjoy these communities more. Well, the TDG does not want to take those communities away from you.
But if our society is to advance, we need to move beyond our echo chambers. We need to learn how to converse with people who think differently than us. Our neighbors might be a great starting point. And we do have a common goal with our neighbors: where we live affects our psyche. Most of us would like a functioning community around us.
If you are in a TDG neighborhood, join that TDG. Get to know five neighbors. You don’t have to be best friends, but your little chats outside your residence will improve your local connections. When it is time to vote (in a TDG way), give your vote to the neighbor who best exemplifies your definition of good character and capacity for governance. That vote has so much power behind it. More power than voting for an image coming from a political party.
And with the TDG asking you to get to know more neighbors a little better so you can vote more wisely, your neighborhood just might be a little stronger community. One side benefit of the TDG.
Again I say, “Get out and talk to your neighbors once in a while.” Voting for one of them is where it all starts. Even if you associate with only five neighbors. One of them deserves your vote.
If you continue to say: “I don’t like my neighbors,” that is a problem you can fix.
“Get out and talk to your neighbors once in a while.”
Published on Medium 2024
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