From Effective Pragmatism to Free Speech
Exploring an effective approach to bridging political divides, Supreme Court decisions, and — since summer is upon us — the science of vacation enjoyment
Welcome to this week’s edition of TL;dr from Good Government Files! This issue covers a range of topics relevant to governance, public policy, and personal development. We explore the importance of balanced pragmatism in easing political divisions, review key Supreme Court cases that could shape the future of free speech and social media content management, and share science-backed strategies for having a great vacation. We highlight valuable insights for government professionals and engaged citizens alike. Let's get started.
Bridging Divides with Balanced Pragmatism: The Key to Effective Dialogue
Psychology Today reviews a paper that examines how adopting a strategy of balanced pragmatism can bridge intense political divisions. The paper’s authors note America “is facing historical levels of partisan hate and multiple political crises that demand action. There are many calls for ordinary Americans and politicians to engage respectfully with each other, but concrete strategies are needed to help bridge divides.” Amen and amen. Balanced Pragmatism involves considering opposing views (balance) and seeking practical solutions to problems (pragmatism). Here are three takeaways:
Enhanced Perceptions of Opponents: People want to talk to other people they disagree with when they have positive perceptions of them —believing that they are moral, intelligent, rational, and authentic. (This post offers a great example.) GGF reminder: People who disagree with you are not the enemy. They simply have a different opinion and are worthy of your respect.
Increased Engagement with Opponents: The study “showed openness to other views and a desire to find solutions to hard problems” by politicians was consistently judged positively, regardless of party affiliation. It also increases people’s interest in engaging with those holding opposing views. If you are genuinely interested in solutions, you need to be willing to listen to those who typically disagree with you because I can assure you haven’t corned the market on good ideas.
Practical Solutions over Impassioned Defenses: Balanced pragmatism emphasizes problem-solving over merely defending one’s views. “Engaging with someone who respects your views and wants to solve problems is more likely to lead to progress.” This finding is crucial for government leaders and policymakers aiming to address complex issues through collaborative and practical solutions.
The Supreme Court is about to decide the future of free speech
Writing for the Persuasion Substack, law professor Nadine Strossen1 discusses the significant impact upcoming Supreme Court decisions will have on free speech, particularly in the realm of online communication. The outcomes could shape how speech is regulated and protected online for years to come.
Balancing Free Speech and Content Moderation: The court’s decisions will determine the extent to which social media platforms can control their content without government interference. “Government control of the companies’ editorial decisions violates the free speech rights of not only the platforms themselves, but also of all of us who use them,” Strossen writes. This principle is crucial for government agencies, which must balance regulation with the protection of free speech.
State Action Doctrine and Government Influence: The state action doctrine, which limits First Amendment constraints to government actions, plays a central role in these cases. The Court must decide if government influence on private platforms’ moderation decisions constitutes undue pressure. Strossen explains, “The question is whether the government has exerted sufficient pressure on private companies’ actions ... that these ostensibly private actions should in fact be attributed to the government and hence be subject to First Amendment constraints.” This issue is pertinent for government operations to ensure transparency and accountability in their interactions with private entities.
Persuasion or Informal Censorship? The pending Murthy v. Missouri case explores whether government efforts to influence private companies’ speech regulations cross the line from encouragement to coercion. Strossen emphasizes “the Court should bar undue government intervention in private sector communications channels” to protect free speech. This principle underscores the importance for government agencies to carefully navigate their interactions with private companies to avoid infringing on free speech rights.
How to have a great vacation — what science tells us
As you plan for a much-deserved vacation this summer, consider the findings of Jeff Galak, an associate professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon University. Galak explores the psychological factors that influence our enjoyment of vacations and provides counterintuitive strategies for maximizing enjoyment. Here are the takeaways:
Do Less to Enjoy More: Engaging in fewer activities can enhance enjoyment because overindulgence leads to a decline in pleasure. “End on a high note, even if staying longer might seem like a good idea in the moment.”
Limit Your Choices to Reduce Regret: Avoiding excessive planning and limiting options can prevent the mental burden of second-guessing decisions. “In planning, this seems like a great thing to do... But when it comes time to experience the choices I’ve made, I can’t just ignore that I know about all the other options out there.” Or, do what my wife and I did for our recent amazing trip to Ireland: find a respected travel agency to curate a trip that lines up with your interests.
Introduce Discomfort for Greater Contrast: Incorporating less enjoyable experiences can make the positive ones feel more rewarding by comparison. “The idea is to introduce just a bit of negativity—a bit of hardship—to make everything else that you do stand out by comparison.” If nothing else, you’ll have a great story to tell of the experience that didn’t go right!
In Other’s Words
The author of The Prism on Substack, Gurwinder, shares wisdom on why you shouldn’t put things off.
When you procrastinate you pass the buck to your future self. The problem is, your future self tends to act a lot like you.
America’s first president, George Washington, on why it’s important to do the right thing.
Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.
Novelist and comic book writer Neil Gaiman on the source of improvement:
You have to finish things — that’s what you learn from, you learn by finishing things.
Onward and Upward.
She is also a Senior Fellow with FIRE (the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression), a former national president of the American Civil Liberties Union, and a professor emerita at New York Law School. Her most recent book is Free Speech: What Everyone Needs To Know.