Political sophisticates also must resist the vanity of perfectionism -- that is, adopting the self-absorbed view that it is more important to stake out a "perfect" position than it is to do something practical to help save the planet. Change may be frustratingly incremental. So, a large measure of persistence would come in handy, too.
In the end, a combination of factors -- including an informed electorate, acceptance of rational thinking and commitment to pragmatic progress -- will be needed to stop the world's headlong rush to disaster.
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