Expert: We’ve been uncivil before

Incivility isn’t a cause of division in American society.

It’s a symptom.

“People become more uncivil because they get passionate about politics because politics matter to them,” Dr. Cornell W. Clayton said. “We have deep divisions and people care passionately about this, and that’s what produces incivilities.

“Political incivility is everywhere.”

Clayton, director of the Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University, was keynote speaker Thursday during a day-long conference at North Idaho College. The event, titled “Returning Civility to America’s Democracy: The Promotion of Civil Dialogue,” examined the state of civility in American politics and the relationship between incivility and democracy.

Clayton described it as an “incivility crisis.” He said the incivility — name-calling, poor manners, lack of respect and other unsavory actions and behaviors — of modern politicians and their supporters is not exclusive to today/ Devin Heilman , Coeur d’Alene Press. More here.