By CKR
Colbert King in the Washington Post today discusses an off-the-record roundtable discussion at an unidentified think tank. The topic was incivility and polarization in the US. The attendees were a highly varied group:
[David] Abshire [of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and a former U.S. ambassador to NATO]; Max Kampelman, the former chief negotiator on strategic arms reduction with the Soviet Union; Togo West Jr., president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a black think tank; Zbigniew Brzezinski, Jimmy Carter's national security adviser; Jeane Kirkpatrick, Ronald Reagan's U.N. ambassador; Thomas "Mack" McLarty, Bill Clinton's former chief of staff; and Jane Dixon, former bishop pro tempore of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Some of the conclusions they arrived at:
Without the presence of civility in the national debate -- not the "bite-your-tongue-to-keep-the peace" variety but civility based on mutual respect, careful listening and honest dialogue -- a polarized country won't be able to tackle those problems.Tolerance, as in having respect for the views of others, is in short supply these days, the group agreed. So, unfortunately is the ability to listen.
There was also a consensus that:
• American politics can do with less absolutism (it closes off dialogue).
• Wedge issues so beloved by campaign strategists contribute to incivility and division.
• Owning up to political mistakes can be a valuable lesson in humility.
• Compromise and collaboration for the common good should outweigh political and personal differences.
I've been engaged in the development of a policy statement for a political advocacy organization that I belong to. The group I've been working with has a wide range of views on current events, but we have some broad goals in common. It's taken us some time, but we've come up with a consensus document that I think we're all feeling good about. That experience has been encouraging to me in view of the divisive and coercive rhetoric starting at the top of the US government and trickling down. Some of us haven't forgotten how to work together.