Re: [AUDITORY] Silence from leaders in auditory science

["J. Scott Merritt" <alsauser@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am saddened to see the Auditory List devolving into a political battleground.  If additional political "discourse" is needed, there is certainly no shortage of other places on the web where it can be found.

From my perspective, the -central- problem with US politics is the increasing polarization of the electorate.  Gone are the moderate statesmen/women that seek a fair compromise acceptable to most.  I put the blame for this situation firmly at the feet of modern media - where all of the incentives are singularly aligned with increased "engagement" of their viewers.

Given that view point, I disagree with the premise that each side should put as much effort as possible into organizing their resistance and further arguing their points.  Instead, I believe we need more people to listen carefully, with patience and empathy, to the grievances of all sides in hopes of finding a middle ground that works for all.

I would venture to say that the majority of the US electorate would agree that the massive debt that US has run up is a significant problem, and would further agree that reduced scientific research funding is an appropriate (albeit small) step to address that problem.  As such, it would be hard to argue that reduced scientific research funding, by itself, is an assault on American democracy.

It can certainly be argued that the methods apparently being used to reduce funding are crude and not well prioritized, with an emphasis on haste rather than wisdom.  Unfortunately, I fear that this will remain the case while the electorate is so heavily polarized and we careen viciously to the left or right after each election.

So ... my suggestions is NOT to "put as much effort as possible into organising resistance to this coup" ... but rather to engage -individually- with those of differing viewpoints, with patience and empathy, in hopes of reaching a better shared vision and understanding.


On Wed, 19 Mar 2025 08:25:25 +0000
Petter Kallioinen <000001c5645d28b7-dmarc-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I am writing from Stockholm following what I take to be the fall of American democracy. My advice is to not the resist the urgency of this situation and not hope for the best. What I would suggest is for everyone to minimize their ordinary work on a stable level and put as much effort as possible into organising resistance to this coup. Everyone!