Dinner Debates
The field of "politics" is (thankfully) more about election seasons that refuse to end or legislative grandstanding. Its a phenomenon that intersects with economic self-interest, visions of morality, and the efficacy of options in public policy.

Though the SPN conference did not formally start until today, I got an informal start on it with dinner last night.

Sitting at a table of 12, I observed and participated in discussions at both ends of a very long table. All of my dinner companions are involved in understanding and shaping public policy. The friendly but passionate debates during the evening showed that even among those who share a general approach to policy, there's room for disagreement. As iron sharpens iron, the Bible observed, so two people interacting can sharpen each other.

Our discussion ranged from politics to policy to philosophy, with red versus blue, the definition of marriage, and the merits of the works of David Hume, Edmund Burke, and Ayn Rand taking up some of the topics.

I have a feeling that we could use more of these talks, across political and philosophical differences. It is nearly cliched to say that, and it is perhaps more difficult to have a dialogue when there are more opportunities for fundamental differences in play. And it would certainly be a change from the smackdown cross-talk of political talk shows.

Then again, it just might be more productive, too. (permalink)