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How to Watch the Presidential Debate as a Civic Pluralist: 5 Questions to Consider
Examining the forthcoming presidential debate through a civic pluralist perspective, Rollie Olson and Adam Phillips present five pivotal questions, emphasizing how these debates serve as a focal point for America’s political divisions, yet also offering a path to engage in partisan politics that uplifts pluralism and contributes to our pursuit of a more perfect union.
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What is the Building Civic Bridges Act and Why Support it?
n the early 2020s, a YMCA near Seattle was stunned when physical fights began breaking out between members over political disagreements. It became so bad, the YMCA hired consultants to train their staff in conflict resolution and planned a series of events to help bridge differences in the community. They asked their federal Representative for…
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When Congress Can Help Us Help Them
The State of the Union address was once an official government proceeding in which both parties temporarily put aside their differences to hear the president offer his prognosis for the health of the nation. Last week, that solemnity and bipartisanship seemed very far away. Instead, the address took on all the trappings of a campaign…
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A milestone in the bridge-building movement
Since last summer, the Bridge Alliance Education Fund and Resolutionaries have joined forces to champion the Building Civic Bridges Act, and the public’ssupport has been invaluable. We’re excited to announce that the BCBA is slated for reintroduction in Congress on March 15 – an exciting next step in our collective journey toward fostering a more…
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10 Reasons Why Americans Are Not as Divided as You Think
Party leaders, politicians, and media pundits and talking heads would have US voters believe that the American public has never been more divided. This narrative is especially prominent in presidential election years. The truth is that American agree on more issues than one might think, and it’s really only the major parties that are more…
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What If Neither Party Is Capable of Governing?
It’s tempting to finally see the selection of a new Speaker of the House and think “don’t worry, the ship has righted itself once again.” After all, the Democratic and Republican Parties governed the United States effectively for most of the 20th century. Not perfectly but effectively. But what if those days of “governing” are…
