Will civility ever return to politics?

I really doubt it. The perfect storm has increased anti-intellectualism.

Such a drastic contrast between now, and when people like Huey Newton were being interviewed for example.

I don’t think any time soon.

It’s trendy now to be loud and vocal with opposition. There are also a lot of radical ideas floating around, like that the moon landing didn’t happen. Social media fuels it.

If civil people going for political positions get enough support from civil voters…outnumbering rabid politician wannabes and their rabid supporters then yes.

American politics is going through a process of “soul-searching” now. The Dark Side is strong on a lot of Americans these days.

Democracy is a cycle of ups and downs. Yes it will return.
We are in the dark stages right now.

I think so but not in my lifetime.

It’s important to point out that all the name calling, insults, and trashing the opposition are coming from the Republicans.

Germany needed a good, thorough carpet bombing for civility to return to its politics.

People need to change first. The people, as a whole, get exactly the politics they deserve. I do worry that information has gone the way of fast food: pleasing, low cost, low quality and ubiquitous. The sheer power of this equation has forever changed food, and so too information. I worry that a people who’s information feeds are filled with this junk will eventually become vulnerable enough to have their political power stripped from them. The global power struggle between liberalism and totalitarianism is raging as we speak, and whether the people grow stronger and smarter through adversity and prevail, or falter, break, and lose everything, is a still unsettled matter.

Pot calls the kettle black as usual.

I really want to believe that it’s cyclical and that eventually civility will return — but I’m afraid it won’t be before something horrible happens.

Has it ever been civil?

@Hawaii_Jake Umm… not here on Fluther. I’d say it’s at least equal.

@Blackwater_Park I know right?!

Most people truly don’t know what they’re talking about, as they do not read actual bills and only listen to soundbytes and MSM clips. It’s to the point I wish we had a test to even vote, but hey, Democracy.

@KNOWITALL – I think it’s hard to argue that a reduction in the number of people who are allowed to vote will create a better scenario for anyone. If the history of power has any lessons, it is that those who have no power are never well cared for; they are always exploited. I do however agree that certain restrictions on pure democracy may be necessary for society to function going forward. The primary system, for one, has produced disappointing results. Perhaps we were better off in the days of smoke-filled rooms.

Even Reagan attacked his rival for seeing a psychiatrist. Reagan said on a debate, on television,
that he won’t attack an invalid.

^^ Who was the rival he attacked and how were they an invalid?

@smudges Walter Mondale. It was a dig because he admitted to seeing a psychiatrist. At the time seeing a psychiatrist was a sign of weakness.

There can be no civility in American politics while people vote for the likes of Trump.

@RedDeerGuy1 Oh ok; all that came up for me when I mentioned Reagan and psychiatrists was Hinkley, Jr.

IMO there should be tons of civility. We have two candidates completely unfit for office and we all know it. All of us should be together in demanding better choices. The problem is people are all wrapped up in the left-right narrative when the reality is most on the opposing sides are not very different and just have a couple of key issues that they don’t agree with. We have some on this site who are immature, inflammatory and should really behave better. Rather than try to see the opposing point of view they take they lazy, feel good path of assuming the other side are just idiots, bigots, fascists, snowflakes etc… I should not have to tell you how smart that makes you look, and if you need a hint, I cannot help you.