Recent episode Michael Barbaro, host of The New York Times podcast “The Daily,” accompanied Kamala Harris campaign staff as they visited the homes of undecided voters in Wisconsin.
Those who answered the door offered a range of opinions, but most were skeptical of both candidates. One woman who gave her name only as Emily acknowledged that while she supports some of Donald Trump's policies, she sees him as a divisive figure.
The administration has made it very clear that civility depends on one thing: obedience. Only those who obey will be treated fairly.
“His comments have certainly contributed greatly to dividing our country,” she told The New York Times, “that's for sure.”
Are we really so convinced that our political and cultural climate is primarily the fault of one man?
Shifting the blame
The New York Times probably would say so, as the paper, along with its competitors, has made the same point in several articles since 2016.
This explanation is no doubt appealing to Times readers because it absolves them of any wrongdoing and places all the blame on Public Enemy Number One: Donald Trump.
Emily is right that most Americans believe political differences are insurmountable, according to the Pew Research Center. study A survey released in June found that only 18% of Americans believe there is common ground between Republicans and Democrats on the issue of abortion, 21% on immigration, and 32% on the economy — and these numbers are down significantly from January 2023.
But political disagreements are bound to happen in every country. What matters is how they are handled, and this is where politeness comes in. The Cambridge Dictionary defines the term as “politeness,” which is a starting point. But politeness, especially in a political context, has a much deeper meaning: the ability to acknowledge disagreement.
Opposing Dissent
By all appearances, Americans are losing that ability. American Bar Association's 2023 Civic Literacy Survey Found 85% of Americans believe that civility has worsened since 10 years ago. Respondents blame social media (29%), the media in general (24%), and public officials (19%) for this. In other words, politics is a factor, but not the only one.
But what is the cause of this decline in civility in the political sphere? Liberals are sure to decry Trump's candor, which they say must offend their politically correct sensibilities.
But their own rhetoric is far from angelic. Consider the vitriol that has been directed at white people, Christians, men, and other groups perceived as “oppressors” in recent years. Clearly, there is a wealth of unpleasant rhetoric on both sides.
Declaration of War
But the difference between the two camps is the left's obsessive obsession with destroying the right: censorship, deplatforming, legal warfare, identity theft, ostracism, firing — these are all arrows in the left's quiver, and they're almost always aimed only at conservatives.
In response, some on the center-right have adopted an equally combative approach to politics — it's not uncommon for conservatives to call for the firing of teachers who indoctrinate kids with extreme gender ideology, for example — but they lack the organizational power needed to counter the tactics of the left, which is what first exposed the issue.
By declaring war on Trump, liberal elites have declared war on civility itself. They have in good faith used the federal government and the mainstream media as weapons against the president and his supporters, and one cannot blame them for the increasingly uncivil political climate that has followed. Yet that is exactly what they have done, and will likely continue to do.
The administration has made it very clear that civility depends on one thing: obedience. Only those who comply will be treated fairly. But to legitimately challenge the administration through the electoral process, as Trump has done, will incur the wrath of our wonderfully fair institution.
Those in power have too much to lose if the right-wing counter-revolution succeeds, so they are not going to go easy on them. For them, everything is at stake.
It is therefore clear that as long as the status quo continues, there can be no great resurgence of civilization. Only a peaceful change of power offers a way out of this madness.
