Daylighting, or "sunlight as disinfectant," is great in a world where shame works and the appearance of rectitude is valued.
But we are seeing in US politics a world emerge where shame doesn't work, where players don't even try to appear honest, and where the very idea of consensus factual external reality is under attach.
In such a world, it will take a lot more than daylight to nudge good behavior from folks. It will take actual fear of being sent to jail.
I hear ya. I don't know how we got to this state, and I'm active player. Complacency?
The silver lining is that Trump was a wake up call. Many, many of my non-political friends contacted me and asked "What do we do? How do I start?" Our boring party meetings have triple the attendance. Any thing that needs doing now gets done.
For my part, I started a book study group, mentoring my friends how to be activists. For example, an upcoming homework assignment is testifying at a public hearing (local city or county council). Most of us have never even attended a meeting before.
But we are seeing in US politics a world emerge where shame doesn't work, where players don't even try to appear honest, and where the very idea of consensus factual external reality is under attach.
In such a world, it will take a lot more than daylight to nudge good behavior from folks. It will take actual fear of being sent to jail.