[snowwrestler]

As the article implies, this is exactly the type of argument that goes nowhere in politics, because the questions are too big.

You're right that if we could all agree on these things, political compromise would be easy, or even unnecessary. The problem is, we can't all agree on these things.

Politics works better at the practical level. Not so much "what do you believe," as "what are you prepared to live with" or "what will you give me if I give you something you want."

[einhverfr]

I don't think that at all for a couple reasons.

First the article talks about the need to save honor and avoid shame.

Also full agreement is not needed, just seeking common ground would be helpful.

The problem with political arguments, to be honest, is that our parties, which don't represent our interests, have convinced everyone that they are good and the other guys are evil. I think exploring the common ground in the first principles will help people come together across political lines and clarify where we agree and where we disagree so that the narrow political consensus is not what the big bankers say it is but what the people say it is.