Democracy Can’t Survive a Culture of Contempt

The Cost of Hatred and Toxicity in Political Discourse

An angry, hateful person — image generated via MidJourney

Political discourse in the United States has devolved into a toxic and hostile environment. This culture of contempt threatens to destroy the very foundations of our democracy.

According to a 2018 survey, 93% of Americans believe civility has decreased in society — and 69% of respondents consider that a “major problem.”

This is hardly surprising. Consider these observations:

• “Incivility has become a national crisis. It is poisoning our discourse, driving people apart, and undermining the very foundations of our democracy.” — The Institute for Civility in Government
• “Incivility is a threat to democracy. It undermines our ability to work together, to compromise, and to find solutions to the complex problems we face.” — The National Institute for Civil Discourse
• “We have lost the ability to have meaningful conversations with those who disagree with us. We have forgotten how to listen, how to empathize, and how to find common ground.” -The Editorial Board, The Washington Post, October 22, 2018
• “We’re living in a culture of contempt — a culture that is filling up with the kind of hate that makes it almost impossible to bridge…