Uniting Together Against a Common Foe

We don't know when the next disaster will strike.  But we've seen how the civic-tech and open-data movement is beginning to make government work better, save money, and increase transparency.  This same energy should be a center of any disaster preparedness conversation moving forward.  Both the private and public sector needs to step up and make comprehensive disaster preparedness technology a priority.

It's political wisdom that people need a kick in the ass to get engaged.  Having a common, threatening foe helps - generally, it's the opposition.  You make them the black hat, portray yourself as the white hat and fight to win.

As I have pointed out, repeatedly, this requires the dehumanization of your foe and permits less-than-ethical tactics.  Invariably, the more competitive you become, the more people fit into the enemy category and you become what you once fought against.

The only way to get past this is to think bigger, in the way we have since the dawn of history.  

The thing that we fear the most, that we feel helpless against is the unknown future and what crises lie in the darkness around us.  The only way to overcome this is by uniting together and sparking a light.

All metaphors aside, if progressives really want to prends le parole, this is the message they should be focusing on.