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If we're going to have debates, let's have real debates.

Debate is healthy and no one in this chamber - starting with me - has a monopoly on being right.

Debates require a lot of hard work and preparation. If you try to wing it, it shows.

We have to struggle against the conservatives from all sides, not only the right-wingers, but also the left-wing conservatives who don't want to change anything.

We will not put a lid on opinions. On the contrary, it is more important than ever that political debates are open and free, even on the most difficult issues. Especially on the most difficult issues. The task is to encourage controversial debates in a form that strengthens democracy.

We must fight intolerance, racism and the far-Right.

Every now and again, people on the far right take a quote from a progressive out of context and use it to attack them.

Open debate is our strongest tool in standing up to extremism. The far more dangerous avenue is to force extremist ideas underground, where they can fester without competition.

And I think both the left and the right should celebrate people who have different opinions, and disagree with them, and argue with them, and differ with them, but don't just try to shut them up.

It can be tough to find areas where Left and Right can agree. Consider the well-being of children: Americans often disagree about how to raise kids, how to educate them, even what to feed them.