Where We Live: Uncivil Discourse

Since Saturday, millions of words have been written about the presumed causes of the shooting rampage in Tuscon, Arizona.  

Many more words have been used to talk about the country’s “tone” and the “heightened rhetoric” which could be at the root of such violence.  At the very least, with the actual reasons still unknown, the tragedy has made us look directly at the nasty tone of politics in the country.

Congressmen like Connecticut’s own Jim Himes have had to step up security since the attack, and Chris Murphy well remembers getting threats during the health care debate.  In fact, he’s faced angry constituents when he made visits to supermarkets, similar to the Giffords event, called “Congress in Your Corner.”

So, what do we actually do to “tone down the nastiness?”  We’ve already heard from countless pundits saying – in one way or another - that “civility” doesn’t really work in politics.  Today we’ll talk to politicans who want to change the dialogue – former senator Gary Hart, governor of Colorado John Hickenlooper, Congressman Joe Courtney… and You. 

No matter your feeling about politics, are you ready to change the tone of the conversation?  Where We Live – right after this news.