Disagree Better: Overcoming Political Polarization

Notes:

        
- Sebastian Niles, Governor Spencer J. Cox and Rob Willer talk about their values. Niles grew up in a small town in central Utah. Utah leads the nation in volunteering and charitable giving. How did these influence his decision to run for governor?

- Today is Constitution day. The idea that community is breaking down across the United States. When you lose community, um, you lose those ties. And politics, as religious participation is declining, political participation is rising. The only way to fix it is to change what's driving it and causing it.

- About 70% of Americans hate what's happening in politics today. We have a perception gap that's 30% bigger than it actually is. The more that we connect with each other, the more we trust each other.

- Rob Bellini: The disagree better initiative was developed by the National Governors Association. People reported higher levels of openness to having conversations across political lines. Even strong partisans supported the governors that took part in them more after seeing them do this. The effects are not game changingly large, but that it made a difference is really meaningful.

- This is less about the high stakes political landscape and more about all of us. We found that serving other people and getting close, getting proximate with people who are different than us, it's really hard to hate up close. Turn off cable news and social media. Have the conversations.

- We do have a survey because we want feedback and perspectives. Thank you again for everyone and hope you have an incredible week here at dreamforce. Enjoy.