Driver's Ed
Driver's Ed
On Tuesdays, Driver's Ed is a space to shift gears on hot-button election issues and test drive people-powered solutions.
Common Speed
This is Driver’s Ed. On Tuesdays, it’s a space to shift gears on hot-button election issues.
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Amendment IV, The Bill of Rights, U.S. Constitution.
From James Madison. As introduced into Congress. September 1789.
Most people have heard the term probable cause used in reference to the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. First introduced into Congress by James Madison in September 1789 within the Bill of Rights, Fourth Amendment case law explains what warrants search and seizures and how to assess rights violations. Its origins, however, trace back to the scholastic traditions of the Middle Ages.
Derived from the probability-related Latin predicate probabilis, how the term was used determined its meaning. When applied to persons, it referred to those more likely to find the truth. When applied to opinions, it referred to consensus as a premise for action. When applied to morals, it referred to reasoning based on values. When applied to law, it referred to decisions based on reasonable presumptions.
That same logic applies to a candidate’s choice of words in a debate.
Compromise Space
In the 5th and early 4th centuries BC, the Sophists created political rhetoric. The reference text known as the Dissoi logoi (also called dialexeis) presented a social experiment to achieve deeper inquiry on a given issue by considering an opponent’s argument.
Expanding upon the purpose of the Dissoi logoi, the first known Sophist, Protagoras, established that every argument had two contradicting perspectives, known as the two-fold argument style. In the first chapter of Truth, Protagoras contended that the cumulative effect of lived experience on an individual’s reality directly correlated to their assessment of truth. To ensure democratic principles, respecting differing world views was essential to community wellbeing.
Depth Perception
The rhetoric that a candidate chooses - not just the words themselves, but how they are said and what they mean - reveal their intentions. In his best-known work, Parallel Lives, the Greek philosopher Plutarch crafted detailed biographies of Greek and Roman leaders in parallel to demonstrate their moral character. A live debate puts Plutarch’s theory into practice.
An eristic argument style is a one-way street aimed at victory rather than truth. An a posteriori argument style is a two-way street based on experience. Trump has a detailed history of using auditory and cognitive distraction in his chosen rhetoric. Harris has a detailed history of pulling from lived experience in her chosen rhetoric.
Here are a few examples:
In November 2003, at her DA victory party in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco, Kamala Harris observed of her supporters: “Looking out at the crowd, I saw one community. There were people from the poorest neighborhoods and the richest. Police officers alongside advocates fighting for police reform. Young people cheering with senior citizens. It was a reflection of what I’ve always believed to be true: When it comes to the things that matter most, we have so much more in common than what separates us.” (p. 40, “A Voice for Justice”, American Legends: Kamala Harris)
In June 2013, in reference to the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin trial, Trump tweeted that “the overwhelming amount of violent crime in our cities is committed by Blacks and Hispanics.” The same New York City report he referred to also indicated that the majority of crime victims came from Black and Hispanic communities. An FBI report showed Trump’s claims on violent crime were factually inaccurate.
In 2015, citing her 25-year career reforming California during her Senate campaign, Harris informed voters: “I have worked to bring smart, innovative, and effective approaches to fighting crime, fighting for consumers, and fighting for equal rights for all.” (p. 43, “A Voice for Justice”, American Legends: Kamala Harris)
Also in 2015, after two white men indicated that Trump inspired them to beat and urinate on an unhoused Hispanic man, when asked about the hate crime, Trump referred to his supporters as “passionate.”
Similar to how campaign rhetoric is used, a recent Stanford study suggested that the first 45 words an officer speaks determine the probability that a car stop will escalate.
It’s reasonable to presume that the first 45 words chosen by each candidate during tonight’s debate will demonstrate what’s probable in their visions for America.
Consider your vote with that in mind.
Catalytic Converter
A friendly reminder that Route 24 is hosting an informational event on Zoom with Force Multiplier on Tuesday, September 17th at 4:30 PM PT/7:30PM ET. Join us to learn more about how to mobilize swing state voters to elect Democrats to the House, Senate, and White House.
is an independent newsletter for those who feel out of gas with current news cycles and elect stories that drive public trust. However you’re able to help fuel our work and mission, thank you for coming along for the ride!
Stay the course,
Sam