When I read the PRT editorial, “A Call For Civil Discourse,” I asked myself if this verbally caustic atmosphere we live in is different from other stressful historical eras. In my opinion, it is not. The technological catalyst – the cell phone – provides an instantaneous,
semi-anonymous and emotional release to every word uttered. The new idiom for “Look before you leap” should be “Think before you tweet.” Vitriol has been part of our political
landscape since politicians’ faces showed up on the bottom of chamber pots. People should read the banter between Adams, Jefferson and Hamilton. The language is more refined, but the banter is essentially the same.
The lack of civility in our political discourse has come from a cauldron full of American voters who are slowly beginning to boil. They are realizing they are losing control of the political agenda via the elective process. Witness:
•“Buckley v. Valeo” – 1976 (Money is speech)
•“Citizens United” – 2010 (Corporations are people)
•“Shelby County v. Holder”- 2013 (Attacks the 1965 Voting Rights Act)
The principle of one man’s vote being equal to another man’s vote is supposed to be a core legal concept. Should we blindly believe that our individual vote is equal to that of a billionaire or a corporation that can donate millions to politicians and campaigns?
The loss of voters is the final point that has created a countrywide emotional impasse that has culminated in our government’s inability to compromise. This turns out to be ironic
because our Constitution is based on a series of compromises. Compromising is what political parties have been doing for the past 200+ years.
The American electorate also shares culpability for our current state of affairs. Citizens are quick to cite their own political rights but are abhorrently remiss in fulfilling their political responsibilities by VOTING. In the last presidential election, approximately 219 million people were eligible to vote; 132 million actually voted. That leaves 87 million (40% of
the voting population) shirking their political responsibilities as American citizens. If more people would take voting seriously, we would have definitive outcomes to elections.
Verbal clashes that fall in the “less than civil” category have been part of America’s DNA since the John Peter Zenger libel trial in 1734. We should understand that the modern day news delivery systems are immediate and overwhelming and we should consider taking time to consider our response before reacting. That is one way to restore civility to our discourse.
I believe there will always be a need for critical opinions, humor, political satire and words that provoke thought. Perhaps we can revive interest in politics if we require all senators to
carry canes onto the floor of the Senate and watch C-Span to see what ensues? Read up on “Preston Brooks and Charles Sumner” – 1856, if you are not familiar with the reference, and you will see that the lack of civility in politics is nothing new.