I participated in a somewhat contentious conversation about politics today, and I feel I’ve come out better from it. The discussion was cordial and thoughtful, and although no concrete resolution resulted, everyone seemed to have learned something, especially myself. Such discourse is vital to the progression of our communities, our society, our species. Complicated problems are not solved in one conversation, but they are chipped away at. They are sighted, and cornered, and tussled with. Like a wild beast understood after many weeks of expedition, our political discussions provide a mechanism to better decide a more conscientious path forward. After all, politics affects everything. Shall we not engage in the complex determination of the evolution of our civilization?