The National Institute for Civil Discourse has a strategy to improve the current state of public discourse in the 2016 presidential election: the “Revive Civility, Our Democracy Depends on It” campaign.
With so many Americans unhappy with the verbal ad hominem attacks, Carolyn Lukensmeyer, executive director of NICD, wants the public to know they can make a difference.
“I write blogs and got hundreds of responses from people who said they were disgusted, embarrassed and ashamed, but did not feel there was anything they could do to make a difference,” Lukensmeyer said.
She mentioned past GOP debates specifically, but the campaign is a nonpartisan effort aimed at reducing the current incivility and inappropriate speech and behavior.
But is change necessary? How does this election compare to others in terms of inappropriate behavior? Guest Host Patt Morrison speaks with political science professor, Brian Arbour, to put this election in historical context and to discuss its normality.
Guests:
Carolyn Lukensmeyer, Ph.D, Executive Director, National Institute for Civil Discourse
Brian Arbour, Associate professor of political science, City University of New York and author of, “Candidate-Centered Campaigns: Political Messages, Winning Personalities, and Personal Appeals” (Palgrave Macmillan; 2014 )