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One of my main objectives on this blog is to change mindsets from the old “mai-baap sarkar” where life without government is unimaginable to a truly free society with self-government. It’s a daunting task because self-government is often equated with chaos and various other evils. So, I consider myself happy whenever someone agrees that there should be a little less goverment. It’s a slow chip-chip at the edifice.

In this endeavour, I try my best to see areas of agreement rather than points of disagreement. As with the Free Software or Open Source movements, it is interesting to see the contrast between the words and the actions of its leaders like Richard Stallman. Some of his actions are clearly libertarian in nature. However, neither does that make him libertarian not does it mean that libertarians seek to “jump on successful bandwagons.” I see something I can agree with, without remouncing the principles I hold. I seek to broaden that agreement, maybe change a few mindsets.

There is an interesting piece by Arnold Kling on TCS where he discusses changing minds in the context of the Dean political campaign.

I believe … that changing people’s minds is one of the noblest efforts that one can make. Education, which is certainly a noble cause, serves to change people’s minds.

Changing people’s minds requires empathy with other people. Just as an entrepreneur must have empathy with customers in order to produce a marketable product, someone who tries to change someone’s mind must have empathy with how the other person is thinking in order to take that person on the journey from one point of view to another.

Changing people’s minds is very hard work. … I never expect that the number of minds I will change with any essay that I write is going to go beyond single digits. Nonetheless, the very act of writing to change someone’s mind helps to improve one’s own thought process and increase one’s own rigor.

Most important, attempting to change someone’s mind demonstrates respect for that person. It is dehumanizing to people to suggest that there is no need to appeal to their reason. It is insulting to suggest instead that one’s hold on truth is so powerful that any disagreement is wicked.

The Kolkata Libertarian has a different take with gun control as his issue to change minds.

I have … come to a conclusion as to how I can play my own little part in shaping the gun debate. By simply not debating any more. By not trying to numbly argue away the anti-gun position of those I happen to meet with.

Quite simply, if you have never shot a gun before, or your instinctive reaction to a gun or the shooting sports is one of fear, mistrust or even anger, I will not attempt to argue you out of your frame of reference. I will, instead, invite you to come shoot with me. Period. [Emphasis in original]