Civility Is Giving Way to Rudeness

The Public Respects Civility, But Rewards Rudeness

Alan Greenblatt's piece on NPR points out that in politics people say they prefer civility....but rudeness is rewarded. The article also points out that bad behavior abounds in our society from people who snack in church, to texting at weddings and wagging fingers at presidents.

There's a key point in the story. George C. Edwards III, a scholar on the presidency at Texas A&M University says, every political incentive in the current climate seems to reward attacks on politicians from the other while discouraging collaboration or compromise. "We as Americans don't just see the people on the other side as having different views, but as evil."

This unwillingness to respect the views of an opponent is leading to extremism. There is no compromise because the other person's view is demonized.