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Can We Talk? Reviving Civility in Public Discourse

One of the bedrocks of the American democracy is our commitment to free speech - the robust, open exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives. Furthermore, the creation of our two-party system was implemented to protect America for entering into another monarchy, ensuring no single mindset could dominate the American consciousness. The Founding Fathers imagined that the inherent tension between these differing ideas would ultimately make our country stronger and more resilient.

 

More than 200 years later, it can be argued that Americans find themselves more divided than united. Republicans and Democrats- both on the hill and in neighborhoods around the country - find themselves unable to collaborate and find common ground in efforts to address pressing issues facing our nation. The advent of technology and social media furthers those divisions, allowing each side to reach only their supporters and ignore others, oftentimes creating a stalemate. As a consequence, a 2017 Pew Research Center poll found that trust in the national government reached a historic low of 18 percent. ( http://www.people-press.org/2017/05/03/public-trust-in-government-1958-2017/) Can we bridge this divide?

Mickey Edwards

Former U.S. Congressman for Oklahoma

 

Dan Glickman

Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; Executive Director, Congressional Program, The Aspen Institute

 

Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer, Ph.D.

Executive Director, National Institute for Civil Discourse at the University of Arizona

 

Yvette McGee Brown

Partner-in-Charge for Diversity, Inclusion and Advancement, Jones Day 

 

Louis A. Chaiten

Partner, Jones Day, and member, City Club Board of Directors

 

Natalia Garcia is a digital producer for the education team at Ideastream Public Media.