Commentary
The intensification of political polarization in recent years has raised pressing concerns about the health of democratic discourse and the rise of political violence. Ash Center Senior Fellow Stephen Richer shares ten principles he believes provide a framework for fostering more constructive engagement: encouraging self-reflection, prioritizing substantive dialogue over hyperbole, and creating incentives that reward integrity and ideas rather than division.
Ask yourself if you’re part of the problem. Be honest. Are you trying to raise people’s emotions for the purpose of getting more attention, more donations, more clicks, even if it generates more anger and hate? Are you fairly and honestly presenting the viewpoints of your opposition?
Is politics the lens through which you assess a person’s worth? I’ll politely suggest that “Republican or Democrat?” or “Trump supporter or Trump hater?” are incomplete measurements of a person’s value and character and shouldn’t be the primary measurement.
It’s well known that some social media companies use algorithms that promote hate and incendiary language. We should push for the disclosure of social media algorithms, and then you should assess if you want to use a social media platform that promotes hate.
Center your political conversations on why your ideas are good, or why your legislation works, or why your political party will bring prosperity to America. Spend less time on why competing ideas, people, and parties are bad.
Relatedly, try to reward politicians who stand on the strength of their character and ideas rather than those who focus on the alleged bad of competing politicians. Reward politicians who begin their speeches with “here’s how I will be great,” instead of “here are the people responsible for all of society’s ills.”
We know that political commentary on social media is much more extreme and polarized than political discussion in person. Limit your online time. And limit whom you follow online. On Twitter, avoid the “For You” tab and create lists of measured, responsible political accounts to follow. Make in-person events your primary political outlet. Yes, I appreciate the irony of posting this online.
If you disagree with somebody over a political topic ask yourself if what you disagree about is a matter of morality or a matter of policy. If it’s a matter of policy, recognize that, and accept that policy differences are normal and OK.
Resist systems and debates that present the election or the legislative battle in apocalyptic terms, e.g., “if Sam doesn’t win this city council seat, then our city will immediately be in squalor and ruin.” Promote system reforms that lessen the importance of each individual election. We shouldn’t be in a world in which because one candidate got 2% more of the vote, the voices of 49% of the population are squashed.
Only call somebody a criminal if he’s been charged and convicted with a crime. Only call somebody a terrorist if he uses fear or violence as a means of political persuasion. Don’t ever say we should “lynch” somebody (as was prominently said about me).
Motives matter a lot. If you disagree with somebody, ask yourself about that person’s motives. If that person’s motives are worthwhile (e.g. he wants to make America a better place), but you just disagree about how to get there, then you’ll have a lot more patience for that person.
Stephen Richer, Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy, is the former elected Maricopa County Recorder, responsible for voter registration, early voting administration, and public recordings in Maricopa County, Arizona, the fourth largest county in the United States.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily represent the positions of the Ash Center or its affiliates.
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