Economist & Photographer
Dear Friends of Democracy,
There has never been so much communication. The digital revolution made it possible. You'd think people would understand each other better than before. But they don't. Otherwise, populists and extremists worldwide wouldn't have so much support. They thrive on the fact that many people believe other people are very different. Not only different. Worse. More selfish, more hostile. More of what the one side doesn't want.
Extremists thrive on what divides us.
We, therefore, need more of what unites us.
But how do we get there?
We need to listen more. Need to understand the other side. Not necessarily agree, but make a serious attempt to get closer to the thoughts and motivations of our fellow human beings. Because without talking to each other, there's no living together. And without living together, democracy won't work.
That's why the Photographer and the Economist here on How To Save Democracy talk to each other. Almost daily (after a long break because the photographer was travelling; there were only letters at that time).
Why these two in particular, a photographer and an economist?
To begin with, myself I am an economist and I love photography. Also because the two professions are very different and so are these two men. One is a man of words. The other a man of images. One is rational and analytical, the other more emotional and impulsive (although he likes to hide this).
So, the Photographer and the Economist come from two different worlds, but they want to get closer to each other. To understand each other. Not least because they know they can learn something from the other side. They're reluctant to admit it, though. At times, they're pretty taciturn, even grumpy (especially the photographer). But hey, they're men, you know, we sometimes need a little patience with them. Anyway, deep down, they like each other, even admire each other. And they also have something to share with us. Because through dialogue, they develop ideas they wouldn't have thought of independently. That's why they walk together in my head almost every day. That's why I let them out of my brain, let their conversations flow onto the keyboard.
I hope you enjoy listening to the dialogues as I do. Because when we listen, democracy thrives.
See you in Democracy,
