Introduction to Taproot: Reframing American Debate

My family was rambunctious, Irish, and Catholic. We had many a spirited debates…more accurately called arguments. It didn’t matter what the point of contention was, and it didn’t even matter if we believed in what we were advocating or not. Despite being an obedient faithful family, a few of us played Devil’s Advocate all too well too often. We started in our youth discussing everything from whether a hotdog is a sandwich, who was assigned each Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, and whether King Kong or Donkey Kong would win in a fight. As we’ve grown these juvenile arguments still happen of course. But we tend to focus on more important issues such as the federal government, the economy, and social issues. When we get tired of these more strenuous topics, we then can take a break to passionately stress that my brother is indeed a humanoid rat who mastered martial arts.

I share my experience knowing that we’ve had too many pointless conversations. Not entirely pointless because some of my favorite memories involve sitting around a McCormick’s Creek campfire in good sport. But in the public arena, and as citizens, it seems similar pointless conversations are had, to society’s detriment…and without the good memories.

Taproot will fix this. It is an intellectual retrospective of perpetual American debates and arguments. We see the cycles that repeat, now, for generations. The formula I’ve created will eliminate the waste in public debate, and allow us to find the Taproot. Once the Taproot is identified it can be isolated and dealt with. As any gardener knows, the best way to remove a bush is to pull the roots, and forget the branches. Branches are conversations that never need to be had, and they simply get in the way. They frustrate the participants which impedes their judgment and emotional stamina.

So, read Taproot and apply this knowledge to all of your conversations moving forward. You still may not agree with your Uncle or co-worker. But, you’ll truly know where the disagreement lies and respect each other’s position if warranted. However, if you’re someone who avoids conflict…avoids disagreements. This book is even more important for yourself. You’ve probably become so apathetic to American debate you want to avoid it entirely. You may even resent those who want to walk about it. It will be more of a challenge for you, but a necessary one.

Speech breeds truth, Silence breeds war.

When we stop talking, bad things start to happen. Relationships fall apart, Marriages fail, misunderstanding is inevitable, diplomacy dies, and eventually leads to conflict and war.

These important conversations are not fun, but in the American Experiment, we must improve society with people who think differently. No easy task. Taproot helps.