Individual Positive Politics

POSITIVE POLITICS STARTS WITH RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL

Each of us is unique

At base, politics involves individuals. Positive politics require that we consider and respect individuals as unique with feelings, needs, and viewpoints. Modern social media outreach techniques slice and dice a target audience trying to focus on each individual. Cambridge Analytica is said to have identified thirty-nine different attributes of target voters. Here we are not concerned with targeted advertising, but we ask you to always be mindful of diversity. Respect how each person's mental model, worldview, basic needs, and priorities may motivate them to support or oppose something.

Mental Models.

Each of us models reality in our brain. Since each of us experiences reality through our senses differently, our model of reality will be different from that of others. But the more our senses experience the same reality as another person or group, the more our mental model will resemble those with similar experiences.

Worldviews

For our worldview, each of us uses a set of default lenses to limit and make sense of the mass of information that otherwise would swamp our minds. We have several such lenses that help us filter and interpret reality. Thus, although we may experience the same reality, individuals will interpret that reality in different ways as influenced by their worldviews.

Basic Needs

Every individual needs milk and warmth or, put more conventionally, food, shelter, social belonging, and political place. So, to win cooperation acknowledge and share your own needs and aspirations. In return, others will more readily forgive your inevitable mistakes. Our common humanity is the ultimate ground and the essential “reality” enabling us to negotiate successfully. It is the starting place for change management and political problem solving.

Priorities

Individual priorities arise when the real world challenges our mental model, worldview, and/or basic needs. Each of us decides how, by what means, and to what extent we will select and pursue our priorities. Only when I acknowledge my own objectives and affirm those of others can I build and maintain relationships. Such relationships structure the situations that limit or grow power. So justice, fairness, and success come from blending our priorities with those of others.

POSITIVE POLITICS STARTS WITH RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL

Each of us is unique

Mental Models.

Worldviews

Basic Needs

Priorities

KEY CONCEPTS

Individual Focus

Community Focus

Institutional Focus

TAGS