Brian Aull's Blog: Upcoming Radio Interview About "The Triad"
February 8, 2015
Question 8
What do you mean by political "ambidexterity?"
To be ambidextrous is to be able to drop the labels “liberal” and “conservative” from my thinking about issues. Think broadly about my values, but also apply them with flexibility and practicality. A key piece of this is a fair-minded look at all the facts relating to an issue rather than selectively looking at the facts that reinforce my preconceived biases. I give a personal example of this, the evolution of my views on rent control ordinances in my hometown. I moved away from a knee-jerk ideological position in support of rent control to a more thoughtful view based on better understanding its unintended consequences.
To be ambidextrous is to be able to drop the labels “liberal” and “conservative” from my thinking about issues. Think broadly about my values, but also apply them with flexibility and practicality. A key piece of this is a fair-minded look at all the facts relating to an issue rather than selectively looking at the facts that reinforce my preconceived biases. I give a personal example of this, the evolution of my views on rent control ordinances in my hometown. I moved away from a knee-jerk ideological position in support of rent control to a more thoughtful view based on better understanding its unintended consequences.
February 7, 2015
Question 7
You claim to bridge the left-right divide. Is that really possible?
Absolutely. I believe that the liberal and conservative philosophies are inspired by fundamental values that are not in conflict. The Gallant corporate culture illustrates this. Valuing individual excellence and achievement, which inspires conservative thought, is not in conflict with recognizing our common interests, which inspires liberal thought. The divide occurs when party loyalty takes on a life of its own or when broad human values morph into rigid and dogmatic prescriptions.
Absolutely. I believe that the liberal and conservative philosophies are inspired by fundamental values that are not in conflict. The Gallant corporate culture illustrates this. Valuing individual excellence and achievement, which inspires conservative thought, is not in conflict with recognizing our common interests, which inspires liberal thought. The divide occurs when party loyalty takes on a life of its own or when broad human values morph into rigid and dogmatic prescriptions.
Question 6
One chapter talks about "The Gallant effect". What's that all about?
Gallant is an alias for a real company, a warehouse shopping chain that has succeeded by paying its workers a living wage with good benefits and by promoting a corporate culture of collaboration and teamwork from top to bottom. This illustrates a general principle that there is no intrinsic conflict between striving for individual excellence and building cohesive communities. The Gallant effect is the healthy functioning of an organization, team, organism, or society that results from the collaborative functioning of diverse parts.
Gallant is an alias for a real company, a warehouse shopping chain that has succeeded by paying its workers a living wage with good benefits and by promoting a corporate culture of collaboration and teamwork from top to bottom. This illustrates a general principle that there is no intrinsic conflict between striving for individual excellence and building cohesive communities. The Gallant effect is the healthy functioning of an organization, team, organism, or society that results from the collaborative functioning of diverse parts.
Questions 3, 4, and 5
If you had to summarize the message of the book in fifteen words or less, what would you say?
A healthy democracy is about what we give, not just about what we get.
What are the three virtues referred to in the subtitle?
Service, learning, and community.
How do such virtues help us find solutions to partisan gridlock?
In many ways, but I’ll give one example of each. Citizens motivated by a spirit of service give our leaders political permission to work for the common good, whereas an electorate divided into blocs of pocketbook voters incentivizes politicians to pander to the multiple special interests this creates. If we value learning, we don’t elect leaders who act as if they have nothing to learn. If we value having authentic communities in our own neighborhoods, businesses, or churches, we hold leaders accountable to value the same thing.
A healthy democracy is about what we give, not just about what we get.
What are the three virtues referred to in the subtitle?
Service, learning, and community.
How do such virtues help us find solutions to partisan gridlock?
In many ways, but I’ll give one example of each. Citizens motivated by a spirit of service give our leaders political permission to work for the common good, whereas an electorate divided into blocs of pocketbook voters incentivizes politicians to pander to the multiple special interests this creates. If we value learning, we don’t elect leaders who act as if they have nothing to learn. If we value having authentic communities in our own neighborhoods, businesses, or churches, we hold leaders accountable to value the same thing.
Question 2
This topic has been on a lot of people’s minds. What makes The Triad different from other books on gridlock and political dysfunction?
Many books focus on reforms, for example, campaign finance laws to limit the influence of big money on politics. Some books blame specific groups of people; I’ve seen books pointing fingers at everyone from the Republicans in Congress to liberal Hollywood stars who one author claims are absconding with our tax dollars.
I’m saying let’s take a step back and think about how all of us might be perpetuating the problem, and how each of us have something valuable to contribute to the solution. A whole lot of this is about changing the moral climate, which is the reason for the focus on civic virtues.
It's also not a dry academic book, but very autobiographical, an engaging personal conversation with the reader.
Many books focus on reforms, for example, campaign finance laws to limit the influence of big money on politics. Some books blame specific groups of people; I’ve seen books pointing fingers at everyone from the Republicans in Congress to liberal Hollywood stars who one author claims are absconding with our tax dollars.
I’m saying let’s take a step back and think about how all of us might be perpetuating the problem, and how each of us have something valuable to contribute to the solution. A whole lot of this is about changing the moral climate, which is the reason for the focus on civic virtues.
It's also not a dry academic book, but very autobiographical, an engaging personal conversation with the reader.
Question 1
What inspired you to write this book?
For at least twenty-five years, I have been concerned about the increasingly divisive atmosphere and declining civility in American politics. It’s now become a real problem, especially with the challenges that our society now faces. I want to help change the atmosphere. So the book is a humanitarian project. Even the proceeds will go to charitable organizations.
The Triad: Three Civic Virtues That Could Save American Democracy
For at least twenty-five years, I have been concerned about the increasingly divisive atmosphere and declining civility in American politics. It’s now become a real problem, especially with the challenges that our society now faces. I want to help change the atmosphere. So the book is a humanitarian project. Even the proceeds will go to charitable organizations.
The Triad: Three Civic Virtues That Could Save American Democracy
Upcoming Radio Interview About "The Triad"
This is a series of questions I was asked to come up with to help the interviewer prepare, along with my answers. It will help prospective readers get a sense of what the book is about.
