I live in a region, one of too many, where old conversations of “priorities"continue to keep people stuck together. Aside from the fact that they are usually deficiency rather than abundance based, these debates are marketed as crucial and compelling. Under the veneer of hand-wringing consternation is the desire of institutions and investors to figure out how they can build their kingdoms of wealth and power.
Civic deliberations pay lip service to authentic empathy and engagement. It might take grass roots and networks efforts to introduce these into the culture. We don’t need to divide people by prioritizations. It can be a both-and transformation.