A comedian's take on how to save democracy | Jordan Klepper

Episode Summary

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In a TED Talks Daily episode titled "A comedian's take on how to save democracy," writer and comedian Jordan Klepper humorously delves into the challenges facing democracy, particularly the difficulty of having constructive conversations in today's polarized environment. Klepper begins by expressing skepticism about the idea of democracy itself, humorously questioning the wisdom of giving everyone a voice, especially in a world where misinformation is rampant. He points out that the ability to have meaningful conversations has deteriorated over time, exacerbated by the rise of social media and a culture that favors short, loud outbursts over thoughtful discourse. Klepper identifies several factors that have contributed to the current state of discourse, including the impact of screens and partisanship, which have made engaging with opposing viewpoints increasingly traumatic. He criticizes the brevity and superficiality encouraged by social media platforms, lamenting the loss of longer, more in-depth discussions. Despite the challenges, Klepper offers three humorous yet insightful tips for improving conversation and fostering democracy: reading long books to expand one's perspective, traveling to understand different viewpoints (even if it doesn't change one's opinion), and conceding points to acknowledge one's own limitations and biases. Throughout his talk, Klepper emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and humility in conversations, suggesting that admitting uncertainty and embracing failure can be powerful tools for bridging divides. He argues that democracy, like a marriage, requires concessions and a willingness to acknowledge mistakes. By promoting a culture of vulnerability and conceding on certain issues (with humorously noted exceptions), Klepper believes that progress can be made towards a more functional democracy. Ultimately, he concludes that in the game of democracy, winning may require starting with a loss, underscoring the need for a shift in how conversations are approached in a polarized society.

Episode Show Notes

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Conversation is a battlefield with only one winner. Or is it? Comedian and author Jordan Klepper believes we can get better at talking to each other (and perhaps save democracy) by learning how to lose.

Episode Transcript

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SPEAKER_00: I'm Elise Hu.You're listening to TED Talks Daily.If democracy depends on discourse, how do we have constructive conversations?Writer and comedian Jordan Klepper offers humorous and helpful tips on how to do it.This is a fun one coming up after the break. Support for TED Talks Daily comes from Capital One Bank.With no fees or minimums, banking with Capital One is the easiest decision in the history of decisions.Even easier than deciding to listen to another episode of your favorite podcast.And with no overdraft fees, is it even a decision?That's banking reimagined. What's in your wallet?Terms apply.See CapitalOne.com slash bank.Capital One N.A.Member FDIC. Ted Talks Daily is brought to you by Progressive.Progressive helps you compare direct auto rates from a variety of companies so you can find a great one, even if it's not with them.Quote today at Progressive.com to find a rate that works with your budget.Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates.Comparison rates not available in all states or situations. Thank you so much for having me. Choose from over 40 themes.Buy all the stocks in a theme as is or customize to better fit your investing goals.All in a few clicks.Schwab Investing Themes is not intended to be investment advice or a recommendation of any stock or investment strategy.Learn more at schwab.com slash thematic investing. SPEAKER_01: When Ted asked me to be a part of this democracy event, I was flattered.When they told me it was a pro-democracy event, I paused. Like, really?We still think this is a good idea?Giving everyone a voice?Have you talked to everyone?One in 10 Americans believe chocolate milk comes from brown cows.We want those people weighing in on foreign policy.I guess if democracy is hearing from the voice of the people, consider me skeptical of that conversation. because I think we're incapable of having it. Any conversation.And not just in America.Globally, we're tuning people out.Frankly, we're bad at talking to other people.Didn't always used to be this way.In the old days, it came naturally.We would talk to folks, we would negotiate over food or childcare so your kid didn't get eaten by a bear or run off and invent fire. Since then, it's gotten harder, more difficult.Screens have placed an impediment between people and thought.Partisanship has made talking to someone outside of your own POV traumatic. Now, talking to somebody with a different point of view than yourself is to be avoided at all costs.It's like paying taxes.You should do it, but if you can avoid it, it makes you smart. It's an awful time for conversations, so much so that even right now, I've opted for a lecture.I won't be taking questions.I find it easier to speak at you.So how did we get here?Well, At someone in their 40s, I'm legally obligated to point the finger at social media.The cultural conversations we have are dictated by the forums we have them in. And all those forums, they just push us towards short, loud outbursts.Maximum volume, short duration.Even right now, this TED Talk is only seven minutes.I remember when TED Talks used to be 18 minutes long. Now you have to communicate the economics between behind climate catastrophe and the time it takes for a potty break.Not great, guys.Not great.I remember the good old days when TED Talks used to be Theodore discussions.A year from now, they're just going to be tease gifs. So, how do we get better at talking to one another? If democracy depends on discourse, on compromise, how do we have civil conversations?Well, the long answer is destroy the bias of social media and the cesspool of misinformation that is propagated by the entertainment machine that dominates our politics and discourse.I could tell you how to do that, but Ted only gave me seven minutes, so... Sorry.Maybe next time it would have cleared everything up.But in the four minutes, well, the four minutes we have left, I'll give you a few tips of what you can do now.The three tips for how to be slightly better at talking to a human you disagree with. One, read a book.Easy.You know, you're not as smart as you think you are. Get inside the head of someone else.And make it a long book.We need to expand our attention beyond just TikToks.Two, travel.Mark Twain said it best, you know, bias is reduced by travel.It's the easiest way.As a kid who grew up in Michigan, I hated Ohio.And then I traveled there.And you know what?I still hate Ohio. but now I know what Akron smells like, so I guess progress, I think.And three, concede something.That's a biggie.Concession.You have to give something up.You're not as smart as you think you are.Concession is crucial to democracy.To concede comes from the Latin consensus, which means to find agreement.And if you challenge me on that, I would concede. because I totally made that up. That's how this thing works, you know?Even upstanding, charismatic people like myself are full of shit.Like many of us, I find my desire to be seen as smart outweighs my desire to shut up when I don't know what I'm talking about. It's hard for Americans to shut up when they don't know what they're talking about.When you make politics a sport, then everything becomes win or lose.Every conversation becomes a negotiation over field position.Our guards are up.We're defensive.We're afraid of getting punched in the face.We think our strongest weapon is our certainty. But the most relatable thing about us is our failure.Has no one here been to therapy?It's all there. And democracy in a bipartisan country is like a marriage.And in America, we are at the couples counseling phase.America, you've made some mistakes.Republicans, maybe vaccines aren't the work of the devil.Democrats, maybe Portland does suck. Canada, Canada, it's 2023.You can't call your police Mounties, all right? We're imperfect.We have to accept that.It's hard to say you don't know, but it can also be liberating.Like, I don't know how to throw away batteries.I don't.I don't know what 40% chance of rain means.Sorry. Does it mean it's 40 percent chance it will rain or that it's going to rain, only 40 percent chance it's hard?I don't know.I don't know. I don't.But it's liberating.We need to.We need to.Concede a little on everything, except for gun safety reform.That's a no-brainer.But everything else, and climate.See, it's tough.It's hard.It's hard. We're not very good at it.It's not popular to concede. In America, there's a big chunk of the population right now who hasn't conceded the last presidential election.It's hard to give any ground when you can't agree that the earth you stand on is either round or flat.But perhaps a gesture of understanding, if not towards irrefutable facts, but to your own uncertainty, is a step towards progress. I think the phrase, I don't know, invites a softening.And the ground is too hard to grow much of anything right now.What I think, in order for American democracy to survive, we need a culture of vulnerability, or at least a space in that culture for vulnerability.The good news is being wrong is sexy.Failure is an aphrodisiac. Every person who has ever loved me has told me how much of a loser I am.The proof is in the pudding.And if conceding is too much for you, if that feels weak, OK, don't think of it as conceding.Think of it as gamesmanship.You're setting a trap.Trap them with your vulnerability.Hypnotize them with your humility.Distract them with your failure.And as they begin to reveal themselves to you in your uncertainty, smash those fools. In the game of democracy, in order to win, we may have to start with a loss. But what do I know?I could be wrong.Thank you.