By their innocence and goodness, by their boundless capacity for forgiveness, and by the sheer power of their faith and hope, children redeem their parents, bringing out their best selves.
Cass SunsteinRead
A system of limitless individual choices, with respect to communications, is not necessarily in the interest of citizenship and self-government.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Limitless individual choices in communication can undermine the ideals of citizenship and self-governance.
This quote by Cass Sunstein suggests that while individual freedom to make choices in communication appears beneficial, it may actually hinder the collective interests necessary for a well-functioning democratic society. The abundance of choices can lead to fragmentation, misinformation, and weakened civic engagement, ultimately posing a threat to democratic principles and the responsibilities that come with citizenship.
Themes
CommunicationCitizenshipDemocracyFreedomGovernance
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a political discussion about the impact of social media on democracy.
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It can be easy and tempting, especially during a presidential campaign, to listen only to opinions that mirror and fortify one's own. That's not ideal, because it eliminates learning and makes it impossible for people to understand what they dismiss as 'the other side.'
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Research shows that if people are talking and listening to like-minded others, they become more dogmatic, more unified, and more extreme. Personalized Facebook experiences are a breeding ground for misunderstanding and miscommunication across political lines and, ultimately, for extremism.
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If the air quality is terrible in Los Angeles, if a particular university is unusually expensive, if crime is on the rise in Dallas, or if a company has a lot of recalled toys, transparency can spur change. Whenever public or private institutions have to answer to the public, their performance is likely to improve.
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