You Have More Power Than You Realize | Idea Knock Down | TED

Yeah. Get it. Get be a little more Yeah. Get it. Get be a little more aggressive. Get after them. aggressive. Get after them. aggressive. Get after them. >> I mean, I might as well be up for the >> I mean, I might as well be up for the >> I mean, I might as well be up for the challenge. challenge. challenge. >> Broom. No, seriously. >> Broom. No, seriously. >> Broom. No, seriously. [snorts] [snorts] [snorts] [laughter] [laughter] [laughter] >> What actually brings people together? >> What actually brings people together? >> What actually brings people together? Oh, I knew you should have gotten this. Oh, I knew you should have gotten this. Oh, I knew you should have gotten this. You would just have food. You would just have food. You would just have food. >> Food. >> Food. >> Food. [music] >> Hi, I'm Neil Fringlass. I'm the chief >> Hi, I'm Neil Fringlass. I'm the chief marketing officer at Visit Philadelphia marketing officer at Visit Philadelphia marketing officer at Visit Philadelphia and I believe the [music] success of and I believe the [music] success of and I believe the [music] success of democracy is up to all of us democracy is up to all of us democracy is up to all of us participating. participating. participating. >> Anush Gupta, president of the welcoming >> Anush Gupta, president of the welcoming >> Anush Gupta, president of the welcoming center and I believe [music] democracy center and I believe [music] democracy center and I believe [music] democracy can still work. can still work. can still work. >> Today we're playing idea knockdown. Red >> Today we're playing idea knockdown. Red >> Today we're playing idea knockdown. Red blocks are rapid fire questions and blocks are rapid fire questions and blocks are rapid fire questions and black blocks have questions that go a black blocks have questions that go a black blocks have questions that go a little deeper. Whoever knocks down the little deeper. Whoever knocks down the little deeper. Whoever knocks down the tower will have to do a mystery tower will have to do a mystery tower will have to do a mystery challenge. challenge. challenge. >> Go for a lower piece. Come on. Okay. Okay. Is debate overrated? Absolutely not. We Is debate overrated? Absolutely not. We Is debate overrated? Absolutely not. We need to understand what other people need to understand what other people need to understand what other people have to say [music] and understand other have to say [music] and understand other have to say [music] and understand other opinions, right? It takes a lot of opinions, right? It takes a lot of opinions, right? It takes a lot of animals to make up a zoo.

animals to make up a zoo. animals to make up a zoo. >> We're also not always right. >> We're also not always right. >> We're also not always right. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> No. Stop. Okay. There we go. It's like >> No. Stop. Okay. There we go. It's like >> No. Stop. Okay. There we go. It's like I'm talking my dog. I'm talking my dog. I'm talking my dog. >> Do you think most people actually want >> Do you think most people actually want >> Do you think most people actually want to participate? [music] to participate? [music] to participate? [music] I think we're at a point where most I think we're at a point where most I think we're at a point where most people feel like there is no benefit to people feel like there is no benefit to people feel like there is no benefit to participating. If they felt like there participating. If they felt like there participating. If they felt like there was a benefit, then the answer would be was a benefit, then the answer would be was a benefit, then the answer would be yes. yes. yes. >> I I think a lot of people want to >> I I think a lot of people want to >> I I think a lot of people want to participate [music] and they they don't participate [music] and they they don't participate [music] and they they don't know how to do it in a way that is know how to do it in a way that is know how to do it in a way that is meaningful. you know, writing letters meaningful. you know, writing letters meaningful. you know, writing letters [music] to your your council person, um, [music] to your your council person, um, [music] to your your council person, um, seeing what's happening in the local seeing what's happening in the local seeing what's happening in the local news and speaking out, rallying news and speaking out, rallying news and speaking out, rallying neighbors together. We we have to neighbors together. We we have to neighbors together. We we have to actively [music] actively [music] actively [music] uh participate in democracy. It can't be uh participate in democracy. It can't be uh participate in democracy. It can't be passive, otherwise it won't work. Our people divided or just [music] people divided or just [music] disconnected? People are certainly disconnected? People are certainly disconnected? People are certainly divided and they're probably divided divided and they're probably divided divided and they're probably divided because [music] they are disconnected.

because [music] they are disconnected. because [music] they are disconnected. >> We are just getting further and further >> We are just getting further and further >> We are just getting further and further apart from each other apart from each other apart from each other >> and we cannot find common ground. >> and we cannot find common ground. >> and we cannot find common ground. [music] [music] [music] And one of the things that we talk about And one of the things that we talk about And one of the things that we talk about so much, right, if you ask one more so much, right, if you ask one more so much, right, if you ask one more question, you [music] can begin to find question, you [music] can begin to find question, you [music] can begin to find that common ground and understand that that common ground and understand that that common ground and understand that we many of us want the [music] same we many of us want the [music] same we many of us want the [music] same things. That division is just a symptom things. That division is just a symptom things. That division is just a symptom of the disconnection. of the disconnection. of the disconnection. >> Totally agree. So, what do I see? So, what do I see? It's good thing I wasn't a civil It's good thing I wasn't a civil It's good thing I wasn't a civil engineer. [laughter] Can young people fix what older Can young people fix what older generations broke? Yes. If they don't generations broke? Yes. If they don't generations broke? Yes. If they don't adopt the same habits of older adopt the same habits of older adopt the same habits of older generations and they bring generations and they bring generations and they bring their optimism to bear on whatever that their optimism to bear on whatever that their optimism to bear on whatever that issue is to allow them to break past issue is to allow them to break past issue is to allow them to break past those practices. those practices. those practices. >> And we've seen proof of that over >> And we've seen proof of that over >> And we've seen proof of that over hundreds of years. We talk all the time hundreds of years. We talk all the time hundreds of years. We talk all the time in Philly [music] about this pursuit of in Philly [music] about this pursuit of in Philly [music] about this pursuit of a more perfect union. And we're doing a more perfect union. And we're doing a more perfect union. And we're doing that, right? You and I are a younger that, right? You and I are a younger that, right? You and I are a younger generation from our parents and trying generation from our parents and trying generation from our parents and trying to better it. We're here right now. So, to better it. We're here right now. So, to better it. We're here right now. So, I think it is an emphatic yes.

I think it is an emphatic yes. I think it is an emphatic yes. >> There you go. >> There you go. >> There you go. >> Nice. That was easy. >> What actually brings people together? >> What actually brings people together? Oh, I knew you should have gotten this. Oh, I knew you should have gotten this. Oh, I knew you should have gotten this. You would have said food. You would have said food. You would have said food. >> Food. >> Food. >> Food. >> Yeah, >> Yeah, >> Yeah, >> food is a huge one that brings people >> food is a huge one that brings people >> food is a huge one that brings people together. I think another one is family, together. I think another one is family, together. I think another one is family, shared sense of community. Ultimately, I shared sense of community. Ultimately, I shared sense of community. Ultimately, I think all the things are incredibly think all the things are incredibly think all the things are incredibly personal and around people that we know. personal and around people that we know. personal and around people that we know. And maybe that's why it's a challenge, And maybe that's why it's a challenge, And maybe that's why it's a challenge, right? Because as the aperture gets right? Because as the aperture gets right? Because as the aperture gets wider and you interact with more and wider and you interact with more and wider and you interact with more and more people that you don't know, it more people that you don't know, it more people that you don't know, it becomes more challenging and you're not becomes more challenging and you're not becomes more challenging and you're not sure if you have a shared sense of sure if you have a shared sense of sure if you have a shared sense of values and uh that's when we start to values and uh that's when we start to values and uh that's when we start to put up walls. Maybe put up walls. Maybe put up walls. Maybe >> feel like the structural integrity is >> feel like the structural integrity is >> feel like the structural integrity is increasingly in question here. How do you know if a democracy is How do you know if a democracy is working? Uh certainly one way is if we working? Uh certainly one way is if we working? Uh certainly one way is if we find solutions, even if they're not find solutions, even if they're not find solutions, even if they're not perfect, to some of our larger, more perfect, to some of our larger, more perfect, to some of our larger, more pressing issues. If we can at least find pressing issues. If we can at least find pressing issues. If we can at least find a pathway to try and solve it, even if a pathway to try and solve it, even if a pathway to try and solve it, even if the the thing doesn't ultimately work, the the thing doesn't ultimately work, the the thing doesn't ultimately work, that suggests to me that democracy is that suggests to me that democracy is that suggests to me that democracy is still working cuz we got a a variety of still working cuz we got a a variety of still working cuz we got a a variety of interests to coalesce around a path and interests to coalesce around a path and interests to coalesce around a path and to say yes, we're going to try this.

to say yes, we're going to try this. to say yes, we're going to try this. Somebody once told me that a democracy Somebody once told me that a democracy Somebody once told me that a democracy is working if we're actively disagreeing is working if we're actively disagreeing is working if we're actively disagreeing with each other. with each other. with each other. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And uh and that really hit home, right? >> And uh and that really hit home, right? >> And uh and that really hit home, right? If if we're all agreeing, we're probably If if we're all agreeing, we're probably If if we're all agreeing, we're probably not in a democracy. [music] And the fact not in a democracy. [music] And the fact not in a democracy. [music] And the fact that we can speak out and we can that we can speak out and we can that we can speak out and we can disagree with each other, that's what disagree with each other, that's what disagree with each other, that's what the democratic process is all about. the democratic process is all about. the democratic process is all about. >> But so long as that disagreement doesn't >> But so long as that disagreement doesn't >> But so long as that disagreement doesn't stop attempts to work together. stop attempts to work together. stop attempts to work together. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Oh, I knew one of these had to be easy. >> We'll make it harder on you to place >> We'll make it harder on you to place that. What's one thing [music] people that. What's one thing [music] people that. What's one thing [music] people have more power over than they realize? have more power over than they realize? have more power over than they realize? I do think people have more power over I do think people have more power over I do think people have more power over what happens in their local community what happens in their local community what happens in their local community than they realize. Every morning when than they realize. Every morning when than they realize. Every morning when I'm walking the dogs, I see something I'm walking the dogs, I see something I'm walking the dogs, I see something and I I email my councilman. and I I email my councilman. and I I email my councilman. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And everybody could do that every single >> And everybody could do that every single >> And everybody could do that every single day. day. day. >> Every day. >> Every day. >> Every day. >> It's as easy as making that call or >> It's as easy as making that call or >> It's as easy as making that call or sending that note to to make change. and sending that note to to make change. and sending that note to to make change. and and and I see people complain more than and and I see people complain more than and and I see people complain more than take the action to do it.

take the action to do it. take the action to do it. >> I would elevate that exact same dynamic >> I would elevate that exact same dynamic >> I would elevate that exact same dynamic [music] [music] [music] uh to Capitol Hill. I I can tell you as uh to Capitol Hill. I I can tell you as uh to Capitol Hill. I I can tell you as a former uh Capitol Hill staffer, I was a former uh Capitol Hill staffer, I was a former uh Capitol Hill staffer, I was chief of [music] staff to a member of chief of [music] staff to a member of chief of [music] staff to a member of the House. Every week I ask my staff to the House. Every week I ask my staff to the House. Every week I ask my staff to pull [music] a report of the emails, the pull [music] a report of the emails, the pull [music] a report of the emails, the phone calls, the faxes that still come phone calls, the faxes that still come phone calls, the faxes that still come in, uh, and handwritten letters [music] in, uh, and handwritten letters [music] in, uh, and handwritten letters [music] on any particular issue, bill, letter, on any particular issue, bill, letter, on any particular issue, bill, letter, >> and I would factor that in, particularly >> and I would factor that in, particularly >> and I would factor that in, particularly those that came in from uh, residents in those that came in from uh, residents in those that came in from uh, residents in the district. the district. the district. >> I would factor that in into what bills I >> I would factor that in into what bills I >> I would factor that in into what bills I would put the congressman's name on. would put the congressman's name on. would put the congressman's name on. >> Yeah. All it took was that one >> Yeah. All it took was that one >> Yeah. All it took was that one constituent to draw my attention to it constituent to draw my attention to it constituent to draw my attention to it and I put the congressman on the bill. and I put the congressman on the bill. and I put the congressman on the bill. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> To support it. >> To support it. >> To support it. >> It's great. >> It's great. >> It's great. >> So actually it it actually still works. >> So actually it it actually still works. >> So actually it it actually still works. >> I mean I'll be a little more reckless >> I mean I'll be a little more reckless >> I mean I'll be a little more reckless but not completely reckless. >> Should voting be mandatory? >> Should voting be mandatory? >> Yes.

>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Oh man, it's wobbly. >> Yeah. Oh man, it's wobbly. >> Yeah. Oh man, it's wobbly. >> They're giving the people what they >> They're giving the people what they >> They're giving the people what they want. [laughter] Is compromise a sign of strength or Is compromise a sign of strength or weakness? It's a sign of strength. It's weakness? It's a sign of strength. It's weakness? It's a sign of strength. It's a sign that the system is working. We a sign that the system is working. We a sign that the system is working. We have made everything, every position, have made everything, every position, have made everything, every position, every policy a dogmatic choice. That is every policy a dogmatic choice. That is every policy a dogmatic choice. That is not the way the system was intended to not the way the system was intended to not the way the system was intended to work. work. work. [laughter] Okay. [sighs] Okay. [sighs] Is the problem that people don't care or Is the problem that people don't care or Is the problem that people don't care or they feel like their voice doesn't they feel like their voice doesn't they feel like their voice doesn't matter? I really think it's that people matter? I really think it's that people matter? I really think it's that people feel like their voice doesn't matter. feel like their voice doesn't matter. feel like their voice doesn't matter. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, I think so many people care >> You know, I think so many people care >> You know, I think so many people care about their communities, their cities, about their communities, their cities, about their communities, their cities, their states, their country. Um, but I their states, their country. Um, but I their states, their country. Um, but I think they they feel like they don't think they they feel like they don't think they they feel like they don't they don't have a voice in anything. they don't have a voice in anything. they don't have a voice in anything. >> We could look at Philadelphia as a >> We could look at Philadelphia as a >> We could look at Philadelphia as a microcosm of that. In our lifetime, we microcosm of that. In our lifetime, we microcosm of that. In our lifetime, we used to see turnout higher than 70%.

used to see turnout higher than 70%. used to see turnout higher than 70%. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> In elections for mayor in the city of >> In elections for mayor in the city of >> In elections for mayor in the city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia. Philadelphia. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> We're now down to 30%. >> We're now down to 30%. >> We're now down to 30%. >> Right. >> Right. >> Right. >> How did that happen in such a short >> How did that happen in such a short >> How did that happen in such a short period of time? We're not that old. period of time? We're not that old. period of time? We're not that old. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It happened because people started to >> It happened because people started to >> It happened because people started to check out of the system for one reason check out of the system for one reason check out of the system for one reason or another. Probably because they feel or another. Probably because they feel or another. Probably because they feel like their issues aren't being like their issues aren't being like their issues aren't being addressed. addressed. addressed. >> Yeah. How do you invite people into civic How do you invite people into civic [music] engagement? I think you lower [music] engagement? I think you lower [music] engagement? I think you lower the temperature. If you start from the the temperature. If you start from the the temperature. If you start from the position, you're either on one side or position, you're either on one side or position, you're either on one side or another of this issue, you have just another of this issue, you have just another of this issue, you have just alienated a whole group of people. So, I alienated a whole group of people. So, I alienated a whole group of people. So, I think you can bring you can broaden the think you can bring you can broaden the think you can bring you can broaden the umbrella and get more people in to have umbrella and get more people in to have umbrella and get more people in to have conversation by bringing the temperature conversation by bringing the temperature conversation by bringing the temperature down. down. down. >> Boom. Oh, no. Seriously. >> Boom. Oh, no. Seriously. >> Boom. Oh, no. Seriously. Come on.

Oh gosh. It's going to be you, my Oh gosh. It's going to be you, my friend. friend. friend. >> It's going to be you. Okay. What is one >> It's going to be you. Okay. What is one >> It's going to be you. Okay. What is one thing [music] worth rebuilding right thing [music] worth rebuilding right thing [music] worth rebuilding right now? I think we need to rebuild our our now? I think we need to rebuild our our now? I think we need to rebuild our our [music] understanding of truth so that [music] understanding of truth so that [music] understanding of truth so that we can have common ground on what is we can have common ground on what is we can have common ground on what is real and true and common ground on real and true and common ground on real and true and common ground on [music] what is fake and untrue. [music] what is fake and untrue. [music] what is fake and untrue. Without that, we we can't ever come Without that, we we can't ever come Without that, we we can't ever come together. Sorry. Sorry. [laughter] [laughter] [laughter] Is social media good for democracy? N O Is social media good for democracy? N O Is social media good for democracy? N O no. Period. I I feel very very strongly no. Period. I I feel very very strongly no. Period. I I feel very very strongly about that. I think it is one of the about that. I think it is one of the about that. I think it is one of the most destructive forces towards an most destructive forces towards an most destructive forces towards an effective democracy I've seen in my effective democracy I've seen in my effective democracy I've seen in my lifetime. >> Yeah. Get it get be a little more >> Yeah. Get it get be a little more aggressive. Get after that. aggressive. Get after that. aggressive. Get after that. Well, I mean, I might as well be up for Well, I mean, I might as well be up for Well, I mean, I might as well be up for the challenge here. See [laughter] if I the challenge here. See [laughter] if I the challenge here. See [laughter] if I could do it.

Okay, my challenge Okay, my challenge is is is I need to fly a kite with a stranger. I need to fly a kite with a stranger. I need to fly a kite with a stranger. Done. Just do this. Done. Just do this. Done. Just do this. >> Good luck. >> Good luck. >> Good luck. >> All right, guys. I lost a bet. Will you >> All right, guys. I lost a bet. Will you >> All right, guys. I lost a bet. Will you help me? You don't. No, you're not help me? You don't. No, you're not help me? You don't. No, you're not helpful. No. Okay. Okay. Okay. No helpful. No. Okay. Okay. Okay. No helpful. No. Okay. Okay. Okay. No problem. problem. problem. >> He's like, "Honey, look the other way. >> He's like, "Honey, look the other way. >> He's like, "Honey, look the other way. Go past them." That's okay. That's okay. Go past them." That's okay. That's okay. Go past them." That's okay. That's okay. You want to help? Oh, you do want to You want to help? Oh, you do want to You want to help? Oh, you do want to help me? help me? help me? >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> She's in. She's in. >> She's in. She's in. >> She's in. She's in. >> Do you notice the breeze like totally >> Do you notice the breeze like totally >> Do you notice the breeze like totally stopped now that I handed you the kite? stopped now that I handed you the kite? stopped now that I handed you the kite? Okay, ready? Okay, ready? Okay, ready? [laughter] [laughter] [laughter] >> Do you need to like shoot it up in the >> Do you need to like shoot it up in the >> Do you need to like shoot it up in the air? Maybe. Maybe. Do I need tension? air? Maybe. Maybe. Do I need tension? air? Maybe. Maybe. Do I need tension? >> Oh, breeze. Freeze. There's breeze right >> Oh, breeze. Freeze. There's breeze right >> Oh, breeze. Freeze. There's breeze right now. There's now. There's now. There's >> I don't know. I don't know which way is >> I don't know. I don't know which way is >> I don't know. I don't know which way is it going. I don't know. This we're it going. I don't know. This we're it going. I don't know. This we're doing. [laughter] >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. YEAH. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. YOU GOT YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. YOU GOT YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT. IT. YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT. IT. YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT. Did you see that head lift off? That Did you see that head lift off? That Did you see that head lift off? That head lift off. That That totally counts, head lift off. That That totally counts, head lift off. That That totally counts, [laughter] right? Yeah. [laughter] right? Yeah. [laughter] right? Yeah. >> You can do it. You can do it. Like, >> You can do it. You can do it. Like, >> You can do it. You can do it. Like, yeah.

[laughter] [laughter] >> I thought you had it. >> I thought you had it. >> I thought you had it. >> I don't know. >> I don't know. >> I don't know. >> I thought you had it for a little bit. >> I thought you had it for a little bit. >> I thought you had it for a little bit. >> Like maybe like that. >> Like maybe like that. >> Like maybe like that. >> Okay. Okay. >> Okay. Okay. >> Okay. Okay. >> Okay. One. We're going to do one more >> Okay. One. We're going to do one more >> Okay. One. We're going to do one more time. [laughter] >> I think you did it. >> I think you did it. >> We did it. We did it. We tried. That >> We did it. We did it. We tried. That >> We did it. We did it. We tried. That That's what counts, right? That's what counts, right? That's what counts, right? >> We did. We did. This is awesome.