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To: Brad's Gramma; Jim Robinson
Did you see this?

Why Societies Need Dissent
Cass R. Sunstein
In this timely book, Cass R. Sunstein shows that organizations and nations are far more likely to prosper if they welcome dissent and promote openness. Attacking "political correctness" in all forms, Sunstein demonstrates that corporations, legislatures, even presidents are likely to blunder if they do not cultivate a culture of candor and disclosure. He shows that unjustified extremism, including violence and terrorism, often results from failure to tolerate dissenting views. The tragedy is that blunders and cruelties could be avoided if people spoke out.

Sunstein casts new light on freedom of speech, showing that a free society not only forbids censorship but also provides public spaces for dissenters to expose widely held myths and pervasive injustices. He provides evidence about the effects of conformity and dissent on the federal courts. The evidence shows not only that Republican appointees vote differently from Democratic appointees but also that both Republican and Democratic judges are likely to go to extremes if unchecked by opposing views. Understanding the need for dissent illuminates countless social debates, including those over affirmative action in higher education, because diversity is indispensable to learning.

Dissenters are often portrayed as selfish and disloyal, but Sunstein shows that those who reject pressures imposed by others perform valuable social functions, often at their own expense. This is true for dissenters in boardrooms, churches, unions, and academia. It is true for dissenters in the White House, Congress, and the Supreme Court. And it is true during times of war and peace

82 posted on 04/27/2009 9:46:33 PM PDT by Just A Nobody (Better Dead than RED! NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA)
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To: Just A Nobody

Has a mouth on both sides of his head, this hypocrite.


83 posted on 04/27/2009 9:50:20 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Beat a better path, and the world will build a mousetrap at your door.)
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To: Just A Nobody

Cool. I’m a Gramma. I ROCK at the “Dissent” thing.

I even come with references.

Bring. It. On. You. Loser.


85 posted on 04/27/2009 9:57:46 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Life is but a big granola bar.)
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To: Just A Nobody
In this timely book, Cass R. Sunstein shows that organizations and nations are far more likely to prosper if they welcome dissent and promote openness.

No, no, no - that book was for when Bush was in office. Since then, there has been... Change

102 posted on 04/28/2009 3:19:17 AM PDT by Talisker (When you find a turtle on top of a fence post, you can be damn sure it didn't get there on it's own.)
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To: Just A Nobody

He only means dissenters on the left, not the bad, socially destructive kind.


142 posted on 05/05/2009 3:48:50 AM PDT by oblomov (Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods. - Mencken)
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