Idaho Civility Summit wraps up with hopes of elevating Idaho’s public discourse
The Idaho Civility Summit wrapped up on a positive note today, with participants including elected officials, civic leaders and members of the press backing several moves to enhance civil discourse in the state, from education and training in the schools to apossible civility pledge to formation of more City Clubs around the state. “The incivility that is rampant in our national media and political environment is seeping into Idaho, and these Idaho leaders have expressed they want to do something about it,” said Carolyn Lukensmeyer, executive director of the National Institute for Civil Discourse at the University of Arizona. “I think Idaho is in a position to model for other states both short-term and long-term actions that can be taken to ensure civility and effective public decision-making.”
The center led civility training for the entire Idaho Legislature this year, the first time it’s worked with an entire state legislature at once; it’s now preparing to do the same thing in Arkansas, with Idaho Rep. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, among the presenters.
Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, the Senate assistant majority leader, was among those participating in the Civility Summit, which ran from Sunday afternoon through noon today. He said he came away “encouraged and energized.”
“The more we can do to kind of tone down the negative rhetoric and let people have a voice, the more likely we are to get people together and focused on common solutions,” Winder said, “so it becomes a win-win, instead of just a win for one side or the other.” Like many at the summit, Winder said he’s concerned that incivility drives many away from the public arena, when more, not fewer, voices are needed for all in the state to be represented.
The summit, which drew attendees from Idaho Falls, Twin Falls and the Treasure Valley, was sponsored by the City Club of Boise and Boise State University, and was held on the BSU campus. The City Club of Boise is in the midst of a year-long “civility project” this year that includes an array of activities; there’s more on that online here. Next up in the project: U.S. Sen. Jim Risch will discuss civility at a City Club luncheon forum on Aug. 8.
As a member of the press, I was among the participants at the Idaho Civility Summit, and though I went into it with mixed feelings, I found it truly constructive. Among the action items that emerged was a move already under way to establish a City Club in Twin Falls, a community that’s seen been riven by strident dissent over its longstanding refugee resettlement program. Another idea that was discussed and that I found particularly appealing was a possible partnership between the press and Idaho universities for a major poll on those who don't vote or participate in Idaho, and why they don't; I've never seen good data on this, and I think it'd be really interesting.
The City Club of Boise was established in 1995, and has as its slogan, “Nothing happens until people start talking.” I’ve been a regular speaker at its annual “Pundits Forum” before the legislative session each year for many years; the club has more than 600 members. Lt. Gov. Brad Little has long been among the members and supporters of the City Club. “They have great speakers, they’ve got a good board,” Little said, adding with a grin, “Obviously, the candidate forums are fun to go to – if you’re not in the bullseye.”
Idaho Falls started its own City Club a decade ago and it’s been going strong ever since.
Little said, “These are forums that are a necessary part of particularly an evolving state like Idaho. You hear things and you see discussions that aren’t available in letters to the editor back and forth.”
Lukensmeyer closed the summit today with a slide showing a quote from Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill, who was the summit's keynote speaker on Sunday evening. "In a political world where shrill voices and personal attacks get lots of attention," Hill said, "we need to be reminded that mutual respect and civility are not only the most effective ways to govern, but also the most beneficial ways to interact with our fellow human beings."
