A second Frequently Voiced Objection to getting involved in civil discussion is rooted in the view that politics as a whole is just too sordid an affair to dirty one’s hands with. This objection goes something like this:
Whenever I think of politics, scandals, backroom deals, and corruption come to mind. Nothing good ever seems to come out of politics. Sure, government does some things right, but mostly by accident, it seems. I know we need government, so political parties and lobbyists are inevitable. But politics seems to reward the lowest-common-denominator sort of behavior. People may enter politics with good intentions but they don’t seem to be able to maintain them for very long; the combined temptations of power and money are just too much. Politics is a necessary evil. I try to avoid the whole thing as much as possible.
Fair enough. Given the broad sweep of human history, not to mention the constant parade of less than savory characters we’re forced to put up with on the news, it’s easy to see why someone might want to avoid being “contaminated” by politics. But consider George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Queen Victoria, Mahatma and Indira Ghandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other statesmen and women who have acted honorably and competently, whatever their particular cause or political affiliation. Or, how about something closer to home? At some time in our lives, many of us get involved in a group, organization, or club. In those settings, we are called upon to act like “citizens” in that we must consider, make, and implement decisions that affect other people. The only difference is that rather than acting as a member of an overtly political entity, we’re acting as a member of a “private” collective defined by some other shared purpose. In truth, many of us happily plunge into these other “political” forums even while remaining leery of formal or political parties, elections, and the like.
Civil discussions can incorporate some of the features of the best of voluntary organizations. They are respectful and orderly, but they also exercise the mind, prepare one to make choices as a citizen, and provide welcome social interactivity. I know, because I have seen it happen in several organizations I’ve been involved in over the years–and in hundreds of Interactivity Foundation discussions over the past 17-plus years. (For evidence, have a look at Chapter 5 in the book cited below.)
*Adapted from Adolf G. Gundersen and Suzanne Goodney Lea, Let’s Talk Politics: Restoring Civility Through Exploratory Discussion, Chapter 3.
