Erosion of civility in politics; grassroots folks have answers

The beautiful town of Natchitoches, Louisiana where people strive to get along with one another

President Obama was quoted as saying at a prayer breakfast in 2010, there's been "an erosion of civility" in politics, giving as examples questions concerning his faith and his birth.  Four years later, political divisions seem only to have increased.  But is this true everywhere and how can politics improve?

To find some of the answers to the problems concerning the lack of civility in political discourse and whether or not folks think it's a problem, I interviewed Jack McCain, a member of the city council of Natchitoches, Louisiana, a few years ago.  That interview is particularly appropriate in 2014, as the country's political divisions have seemed only to increase over time.

McCain has been active as a political and community leader in the town since 1988. He also owns his own business in auto supplies and has the perspective of small business as well as that of a conservative from the South. But he had a history of taking pride in himself on looking at issues and working towards areas of agreement.

McCain was asked, "Do you think there are problems with civility in political discussions today?" He said, "Yes I do." When asked why that is, he responded, "I don't really know for sure all the answers. But this is what I think. We are more polarized now that I have ever noticed before. I think a lot of it is due to public unrest, like the parties, the tea parties, the health care debate and all that." He declared he thinks Obama is setting a trend that's divisive.

When asked if former President Bush might have been divisive as well, "He said I think he (Bush) was perceived that way, as a divider." He agreed that neither Bush nor Obama were politicians who have been able to moderate discussion and bring people together.
But the effect on future generations is McCain's greatest concern.

 He said this, "What are we doing to our children? It's really scary. We have to stop spending. We need to be more interested in the private sector, small business. Not a lot is being done to help small business." He expalined it's tough for many small businesses, although his is doing well.

I asked McCain if he thought political dialogue was better in Natchitoches than other places in the country. He said, "I think it's better. But there are those trying to drive a wedge between us from both the conservative and liberal sides." McCain referred to a march on city hall that had taken place a couple of months ago where a group of people demonstrated against bringing back what is commonly known as a "darky" statue of an African American man bowing at the waist while tipping his hat. 

McCain went on to explain how there had been major objections to the statue and talk of bringing it back as simply a historical piece. Marchers instead didn't want it in town, unless it was placed in the hands of African Americans, exclusively in a museum; and some even objected to that.

 It was found later on the statue was not coming back for some technical reasons set outside of Natchitoches, so it had really become a non-issue. Still council members were accused of wanting to bring the statue back in some negative way and were even accused of shutting down the local radio statue so the proceedings couldn't be heard on the air, although the owner declared later it was a problem simply with the radio station itself. McCain declared, "people didn't seem to want to listen, the effort was divisive and caused some hard feelings." He went on to say, however, "that most folks don't want this kind of stuff to go on, including most of the African Americans I know."

McCain, at the time of the interview, told me of his belief people can find areas of political agreements and should focus on them. He said, "There are ways people can get together and focus on issues not personalities." He agreed things like medical marijuana and legal rights for all groups regardless of sexual orientation are some of the areas where open agreements might be made. He went on to emphasize, "the militant factions should back off."

I asked McCain what kind of person he thought might be able to get the country together. He said, "That's a difficult question. That's really tough. For my part, I think someone with Christian values, someone who is centrist but progressive in some ways, but still thinks less government is better. The person should want the government to be safe." He observes that money and lobbyists get in the way of good communication and prevent some good people who might be the right kind of folks for political office. He mentioned people like former Governor Huckabee, but how he stumbled on pardoning a man from prison, who later killed several police officers. He likes some of Newt Gingrich's ideas but not his personal values because of his divorces.

"Could you accept a Democrat"? McCain who admitted to being a lifelong Republican said, "Yes, and there could be some unknowns out there. The person could be an independent or Democrat, not just a Republican person. Republicans do a lot of things I don't agree with, so the person could be an independent, for example. A lot of people are moving in that direction for that reason, I think."

McCain is often talked about in the town of Natchitoches as someone most folks respect. So I asked how he was able to communicate with most people in Natchitoches and are to moderate discussion." He said, "Well, first of all I don't think of myself as a politician, although technically I probably am. I pride myself on looking at every issue on its merits, the human side of the issue. I will do what is right for Natchitoches, not just to get elected. I avoid racism when it comes to relationships with the African American community and stick to the issues at hand." He also said this might be his last term on the city council, and he wants as a replacement, someone "who has the right kind of thoughts and is able to communicate them well and get along with others."

On a personal side, McCain talked about that human side of interaction as very important. He mentioned his own personal pain, like the deaths of two of his children, that had helped him relate to people who suffer from hurts. "Losses make people look at things differently, with their hearts. I try to do that as well."

Polarization in politics is said to take place in a country divided on strict political lines. But is it everywhere and where are the good examples? The interview with McCain provides evidence there are people at the grassroots level who care about others and want discourse to improve and try to set good examples for it so effective political discussions and civility can happen everywhere.

If people thought of a nearby state with all its people as simply part of a neighborhood or a small town with close relationships, respecting what folks often talk about, as the connectedness among us, perhaps the ability to get along politically would occur; and the gridlock in Washington would become a clear highway with the country reaching its destination towards prosperity and peace.