Critical thinking can help keep the Dem Party from being misunderstood

[gulliver]

Imo, we have a signal-to-noise ratio problem that confuses people about who Dems are and what we stand for. The strongest legitimate "signal" is arguably the Dem Platform document, but, unfortunately, its reach is minimal. It has to be looked up and read, so...

My question is, how do we keep the Dem Party from being misunderstood? How do we signal boost those who channel the legitimate platform? How do we mute (or equalize to a democratic level of representative legitimacy) noise? Third, how do Dems prevent intentional or unintentional co-opting of our group identity and reputation by message screw-ups or false flaggers?

I think the most practical way may be to teach all people critical thinking skills as if our lives depend on them. People who think critically know not to take wooden nickels like "if someone who typically votes Dem says it, it must be the opinion of all Dems."

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Lesson One:

Distinguish between Fact and Opinion

[Karadeniz]

2. Somehow, it needs to be taught. But also, just teaching history correctly would open people's eyes.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

3. Teaching at least basic critical thinking should be standard curriculum

that starts immediately after learning to read, and how to count.

Most very young kids can understand the basic concepts from an early age. In particular, how to identify basic logical fallacies. That knowledge should be fostered early and often as kids develop.

Teaching them 'science' also helps a lot because it's a discipline in which logical fallacies MUST be eliminated.

[keep_left]

4. Also, a return to teaching civics by high school age if not before.

And I mean real civics, as in an actual civics class with a textbook labeled "Civics". Many school districts claim they're still teaching civics by saying that world history and other marginally-related subjects are the same thing. Actual civics classes started disappearing from schools in the late '80s for various ill-defined reasons (I have my own conspiracy theory, but never mind). My high school had a pretty good civics curriculum which even included a segment on the American labor movement. That's inconceivable today.

[lostnfound]

5. Great post. But can't rely on schools, when rightwing build the equivalent of 'madrassas'

Problem 1. The nurturing of rightwing fanatics is happening in homeschools with the aid of well-funded propaganda machines and tech-driven conspiracy spreaders

Problem 2. We can’t wait 15 years to educate the next generation to become voters.

So I guess what you’re suggesting is pushing critical thinking skills onto adult friends, family, and colleagues? Or a mass messaging effort through advertising or media?

[gulliver]

6. Maybe use the constitution class model or licensing/certification model

For example, my state requires students of public and private schools to pass both national and state constitution tests. We could do that with critical thinking skills. Also, I don't understand how a state can require science, math, and reading education in the curricula for all students and not teach fundamental things like hypothesis, valid experiments, respect for references, peer review, basic logic, avoidance of fallacies, rhetoric and persuasion, and so forth. If science, math, and reading are required, in other words, then critical thinking is required, it seems to me.

And maybe a lot of schools already teach those things but either give them short shrift or don't repeat them enough?

People generally have to pass drivers tests, so that's another model. To me, it would be worth it to have a proctored test or something that you could take every ten years. It wouldn't be mandatory. You would get a $20 gift card for it maybe. And maybe you could use it for a badge in social apps to distinguish yourself.

[lostnfound]

8. That's an interesting idea, I like it.

In fact, a broader mechanism for catching adults up on things they never learned could have lots of benefits.
Americans have developed such an anti-intellectual streak it’s so counterproductive.

[SWBTATTReg]

7. All fine and fancy, but the key here (IMHO) is the desire to have critical learning. What

republican have you met wanted to really learn more about the democratic values that we stand for? Not many.

[Silent3]

9. "Every thinking person in America will be voting for you."

…a supporter of Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson once purportedly said to him when he was running for president in the 1950s.

Stevenson replied, "I'm afraid that won't do — I need a majority."

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

10. In addtion to some of the other suggestions

If Democrats can keep the WH and Senate, plus get control of the House, they need to pass legislation to break up media monopolies. It could help in making media compete more often with facts, not narratives.

They also need to pass legislation to make it illegal for anyone to use public airwaves to lie. That wouldn't get rid of Fox, but it would destroy the right wing radio sewer system that is the gateway drug to so much stupid.