We need to bridge the chasm

I wrote this over a year ago and have learned a lot since then (thanks, in part to you good people on here). I'm looking at it again because the problem, as I see it, is that we aren't having the difficult but vital discussions we need to have in order to educate ourselves and each other about some of the most pressing issues facing our nation and the West in general. And, lets face it, our politicians are just making the problem worse. 

With more than half of the population still using Fakebook as their primary social media source and the rest of us migrating to other sites because our views aren't welcome there it seems that dialogue between people with different ideologies has completely broken down.This means that, in effect, we are being censored into our own echo chambers. 

I believe we need to find ways to push through these perceived differences and recognise that there are good people on both sides of the divide who just have different views on the problems and solutions. We are, after all, each others countrymen. 

It's up to us on social media to try to bring that about because the Overton window of the mainstream media is very slim and biased. I am aware of the challenges such as labeling of ideological opponents as racist etc.  but this valuable discourse needs to happen and it is long overdue. I think we need each-other if we're going to move forward in a positive direction and not be steered off course by manipulating forces.

Simple messages/memes can have an impact if they take off - such as Ideas before Identities, Character not Characterisation, Liasing without Labeling etc. I might even get some printed onto T-shirts. 

Please let me know what you think - I am right to want to reach out or is it futile? Are there any organisations/channels out there who host real debate featuring individuals from across the political spectrum? What are your ideas on how we can unite?