In late 2019 I joined 50 people in a debate sponsored by Braver Angels . The mission of this organization is to bring politically diverse people together in civic dialogue in order to depolarize US politics. It is one of a growing number of "building bridges" groups. This particular debate focused on Medicare for All . The debate followed parliamentary procedure. The rules were modified to exclude voting, or any activity that would determine winners, losers, and/or promote a specific truth. Rather, according to the organizers, the aim was to create a space for the collective search for truth, and in so doing, foster civility, communality and respect. Participants were asked to act in good faith and assume the same about others. In private pre-debate correspondence with the organizers, participants were required to identify with a political side. Half the attendees identified themselves as conservative, the other half liberal, but none of us were told who believed what. Parti