Civility in Political Discourse?

Question

What has caused the lack of civility in todays political discourse?
It is not just the Yahoo yahoos it is the politicians as well.
Is this an indication of moral decline and values in the country?
Is the lack of personal responsibility and anonymity contributing to this?

On CBS.com the editorial editor wrote a piece and called the President a liar. Not only did he show disrespect but he failed to mention anything other than his opinion to support his position.

Has the irrational hatred for the President made this lack of civility worse?

If you had to say what you say in anonymity here, in public with your name, address and phone number attached, would you show more civility in your answers?

Lots of questions, let's see if there are some answers that are civil and reasoned, or will it just be another round of screamin dean invectives.

http://woodstock.georgetown.edu/publications/report/r-fea50.htm

This is great, you guys are going to make picking a winner difficult, and fun. Thanks

Answer 1

I was going to simply write, " Go to H e l l "
but I thought about it and considered your question was well intentioned and above a snide remark, so here goes:

I'm sure that anonymity has a lot to do with it as it concerns these forums, but that doesn't even begin to explain the other examples you allude to. And it just isn't in politics - although politics seem to highlight the problem best.

Op Eds in the newspapers typically don't include a shred of evidence anymore to support the writers opinion - and they're usually written in such a way as to imply that, rather than an opinion, these are the facts. More concerning is the increasing number of attacks, not on policy or agenda, but on the person.

Moral decline? Of course, just ask anyone over 50 years of age. Compare the television from the 50's and 60's to today's programming garbage. Still, I don't think that alone is the reason for the irrational hatred and name calling and personal attacks.

I believe a lot of it is the product of ignorance. Just read some of the answers on this forum - some of them have formed an opinion based on lunacy and rhetoric without an inkling of the facts.

I believe that all of this negativity and name calling in the political arena will back fire because I believe people are getting sick of it.

2008 will be a very interesting campaign.

Answer 2

And the commentators over at Fox News, and Rush Limbaugh, and Ann Coulter, and others of that ilk aren't doing the same sort of thing? Limbaugh repeatedly referred to Clinton's term in office as an "occupation." And this was a man who won the presidency without any controversies or questions over whether it was legitimate or not.

It's not hatred of the president that has made this lack of civility worse. It's the fact that news sources have become blatantly more biased on both sides. People tend to only read sources that confirm their opinions. These sources tend to be on the fringes of both ends of the political spectrum. And anyone on the fringe is bound to be less civil.

Answer 3

I mean on one hand people in like Asia have huge brawls in their congress.... we just yell at each other... hahaha... I don't think anyone has hit anyone in the U.S. congress since Sumner.. that was his name... right?

I think all you can do is try to be civil yourself... and set an example... but that's easier said than done... if you been here a while, you've probably said some things you're not too proud of along the way... but in the end... it's because you care about America for most people... which if that's the motivation... then at least it's a good reason...

Answer 4

Great question. I have been listing to Mancow Muller in the mornings, he's down right nasty to the left. That being said - I agree with his opinions; (for the most part) however, I don't care to much for his language. Al franken is even worse! I think hatefulness on one side, breads hatefulness on the other. In my dealings with people, I try to give them there say. I respect them, and there ideas, and I expect the same courtesy in return!

Answer 5

I really couldnt say. I think theres always been a level of hatred for those that think differently, its just our culture. We have this wierd idea that different is always bad especially when it directly opposes our line of thinking. However, I do agree there seems to be a wierd trend of acting out physically along with that hatred that wasnt present before that I can ever remember.

Answer 6

it truly is area of the dumbing down of u . s . a ., or a minimum of it is one thanks to describe this area of solutions. people talk about issues that they have got genuinely 0 expertise of, and maximum persons imagine of politics on this kind of simplistic aspect that it truly is truly like attempting to have a communicate with a set of hillbillies. for sure over the years we've liberalized our idea tactics and the mechanics of how we opt for our representatives. The Forefathers knew the 1000's might want to fail, and it is the reason they set up the device they did. the 1000's will continuously basically vote themselves reward from the federal treasury, and that is what we see in the present day.

Answer 7

At the core, intellectual laziness.

It takes cognitive effort to make distinctions, to look past the sound bites and shallow labels, and to actually deal with issues on their merits, rather than in sweeping generalizations.

People who are not willing to make the effort to actually think rationally are left with nothing but mindless rhetoric. And because they are not willing to make the effort to deal with individual issues, that rhetoric takes the form of broad attacks on the other side.

By attacking the other side, a person can make lots of noise, and evoke lots of emotion, without ever having to engage in intellectual thought. It's essentially a contagious mental disease, where people stop thinking and just keep shouting at each other.

Answer 8

great point and yes it has, in all aspects of politics. Be it on Capitol hill or here on answers! (including my bashing of the left)

Answer 9

Really interesting question, looking forward to going through the answers

Answer 10

Was wondering the same thing