by jpitney | Jan 24, 2021 | civic virtue, Civility, Democracy, Polarization, Religion
David French: On January 15, Hunter Baker, the dean of arts and sciences at Union University—a Baptist college not far from me in Jackson, Tennessee—did something exceedingly rare in our highly polarized time. He published an apology. In an essay in Public Discourse,...
by jpitney | Jan 21, 2021 | civic virtue, Congress, Constitution, Democracy, Elections, Electoral College, History, Polarization, US Constitution
The national anthem has seldom resonated as much as it did when Lady Gaga emphasized the words “our flag was still there” and pointed to the flag on the capitol which had been attacked just a fortnight earlier. It was all balm for America’s wounded soul....
by jpitney | Jan 14, 2021 | Biden, civic virtue, Civility, Polarization, Public Opinion
From the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service Despite deep political polarization and levels of civil and political unrest not seen in a generation, American voters are cautiously optimistic about the future of our politics, according to the most recent...
by jpitney | Jan 9, 2021 | Civility, Congress, Mass Media, Polarization
Michael S. Johnson at New GOP Forum: Congress, as it has been frightfully clear for some time needs reform. Begin with the stark reality that the institution is highly vulnerable to violent occupation, guarded by a 2,000-person police force that let down its guard...
by jpitney | Dec 20, 2020 | Civility, Education, Polarization, Viewpoint Diversity, Volunteering
Samuel Abrams at AEI: This socio-political reality is dangerous for our polity, as it can lead to what the nation just witnessed around the 2020 elections: negative partisanship, the death of real debate, and further institutional polarization. Trust in government and...
by jpitney | Oct 20, 2020 | Polarization, Public Opinion
Daniel Stid at The Art of Association: Consider the findings of a recent study by political scientists Douglas Ahler and Gaurav Sood, “The Parties in Our Heads: Misperceptions About Party Composition and Their Consequences.” The authors draw on survey data...
