- March 28, 2024
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Facts or truth? Would you rather have the “truth” on your side or the facts? Facts “are.” Truth is what we (each human) make it. What is truth to you is not necessarily true to others. That’s not the case with fact. It’s easy to debate the truth. Just add the words, “In my opinion.” Not so with fact.
Identifying facts, however, rather than debating a “truth” serves America so much better. When creating public policy, facts are relevant – truth not so much.
Republicans are concerned about the size of government. They argue it is too large, too costly and too intrusive. That is the Republican truth. I am not writing a rebuttal to that perspective. In some respects, I agree.
We have a tried and true American model for solving our problems, and it is pragmatism.
Pragmatism as a philosophy is quintessentially American. That it developed here is not surprising. Consider what could be more American than Larry The Cable Guy’s wisdom of “Git-R-Done.” That philosophy, that approach to living, was first articulated by Charles Pierce (and others before) in the 1870s. America had just ended a bloody civil war over ideology, and the idea of pragmatism was partially in response to the insanity of that conflict. William James and John Dewey refined and applied the concepts of pragmatism, and my favorite philosopher Richard Rorty further honed the concept.
Merriam-Webster defines pragmatism as, “a reasonable and logical way of doing things or of thinking about problems that is based on dealing with specific situations instead of on ideas and theories.”
Republicans just ended their annual three-day orgy of righteous indignation called CPAC (The Conservative Political Action Conference). Speeches were made, truths were uttered, lips flapped with a bitter wind and nothing was achieved but self-righteous outrage over the course of events in America.
Think of ideology as the truth your side preaches. Both the left and the right in America pursue public policy based on an ideology. We elect Democrats and Republicans based on our understanding of what each political party exemplifies. My beef is that ideology (one’s truth) is getting in the way of “Git-R-Done.”
This is ironic because “most” Americans are pragmatic, but our politics (governing) has devolved into fighting over core beliefs rather than what works. We fight amongst ourselves over which side’s idea of truth is what, truer?
I’m with Republicans who don’t want to support those unwilling to work. I get that. OK, how then do you pursue a self-sustaining citizenry? What policies do you put in place over what period of time in pursuance of that objective? If universal health care for all Americans does not fit your ideology (of truth), how exactly do you deal with the uninsured? Again what programs over what time period do you put in place to test your (Republican) solution(s)? I do not see viable GOP proposals.
We’re having these conversations because we’ve become obsessed with truth (Republicans mainly) and to hell with the facts (reasons for long term unemployment/reasons Americans go uninsured, etc.).
The only way any of this is going to change is if we marginalize ideology, identify the facts and pursue possible solutions. We urgently need leaders who embrace pragmatism.
Suzanne Collins author of “The Hunger Games,” wrote, “Whatever the truth is, I don’t see how it will help me get food on the table.” Exactly.
We require leadership embracing that quintessential American virtue of just “Git-R-Done.”