About us
Civilized Conversation seeks to revive the lost art of face-to-face thoughtful conversation. We're a diverse group of people from different parts of the political spectrum and varying backgrounds. Yet, we believe that it is possible to discuss controversial topics honestly and respectfully, as well as passionately.
We meet every Monday evening (except the last Monday of each month) at the same time and place to discuss a pre-set topic. Usually it's related to politics or public affairs, but some topics are about religion, cultural change history, world politics, or even philosophy or science. Our format is an informal roundtable discussion by all present, with a moderator.
WHEN: Mondays 7pm - 9pm (except last Monday of each month).
WHERE: Panera Cafe, 5620 Balboa Ave., at the front of the giant shopping mall at Balboa and Genesee. Lots of free parking.
SIGN UP to the group and to attend specific mtgs at Meet-up.com.
Upcoming events
5
Expand/reform the Supreme Court: pros and cons, + election wrap-up
Panera Bread, 5620 Balboa Ave, San Diego, CA 92117, USA, San Diego, CA, USDemocrats are not bothering to campaign on one of the biggest issues that the country will face in the next five+ years: Supreme Court reform. The main reason is that Democrats will not be able to do anything about the Court until at least 2029 because Republicans would use the Senate filibuster to kill off any reforms and President Trump would surely veto them all if they do pass the Congress.
Still, more and more Democrats are convinced that as long as this highly partisan, highly hypocritical, and "drunk on its own power" Supreme Court stands in the way, no pro-democracy reforms will be possible, and the loopholes Trump used to weaken our democracy will not be closed. As long as this purpose-built SCOTUS is in the way, the United States will remain one election away from right-wing authoritarian takeover.
Moreover, no major substantive liberal/progressive policy changes will be possible, either. SCOTUS has rewritten the rules so that it can pass judgement on any law it wants, basically, and the justices would without doubt overturn any and all laws on the progressive wish list - regardless of whether they are consistent with past precedent or the Constitution.
I'm sorry. But this is simply true. You might approve on sustance. Yet do you agree that SCOTUS should be the dominant branch of govt on SUBSTANTIVE matters as well as constitutional ones? And are you ok that they have stopped pretending not to be on one side politically?
By 2029 the Democrats must decide whether reigning in the Roberts Court via institutional reforms or expansion must be at the top of its to-do list should they win a USG trifecta. Internally and quietly, that debate has already begun.
We could discuss this topic. Or, since 11/9 will be our first mtg after the big midterm election, we could talk about the results and what they mean. Check back here the week before 11/9 for some optional background readings on Supreme Court reform and election post-mortems.
Optional Background Readings -
-- TBD.
15 attendees
Will far right political parties become mainstream in more major democracies?
Panera Bread, 5620 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, CA, USRight-wing political parties have been gaining power through the ballot box in more and more geopolitically important countries in recent years. These radical parties - not the same as the center-right parties that exist in almost all democratic countries and govern off and on while playing by the rules - are surging in global popularity.
Here are some of the nations that are currently governed by right-wing political parties, have been until very recently, or may soon be.
-- Argentina, Brazil, Columbia., Chile, Bolivia
-- Italy, France, Netherlands, Germany, Hungary (recently voted out), Croatia, and even Sweden.
-- India (BJP), Türkiye.
-- USA.This doesn't even count Putin's Russia or the four dozen (!) or so countries typically categorized as "unfree," like China, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Sudan. (A few are left-wing.)
The key points for our purposes, IMO, are that (1) these right-wing parties usually were freely elected, (2) it is a worldwide phenomenon so maybe there are common voter grievances or failures by mainstream parties, and (3) the right-wing parties loosely cooperate with and mutually support one another.
Civilized Conversation discussed the rise of right-wing political parties several times in the past. Try mining the two mtgs listed below for links and other thoughts. Check back here the week before the November 16th mtg for optional background readings/viewings on what may be a big change in global democracy's future: The need to either accommodate disgruntled voters or pay the price we're seeing now - far-right parties evolving into mainstream parties. Without the need to moderate to do so. All over the world. Loosely cooperating.
Background Readings -
-- 2019 CivCon: Is a Global Far Right-Wing Movement Emerging?
-- 2017 CivCon: How dangerous is the far right-wing in Europe?10 attendees
Past events
516
