Monthly Archives: February 2010

Middle-of-the-Road Rage

Written by . Filed under Academic & Research, Civil Discourse, Media & Culture, Nonpartisan Productive Dialogue, Populism. No comments.

I addressed Newsweek editor Jon Meacham at his recent talk on civil discourse at University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul. Meacham’s speech and the large turnout it drew underscores the accelerating interest in non-ideological dialogue.

Setting up my question to Meacham with a provocative “media-teaser” got his attention and launched an animated conversation. Meacham acknowledged the larger question Nonpartisan Productive Dialogue asks: when will citizens will become agitated enough about the failure of the polarizing rhetoric of our leaders to do something about it?

My published comment to Meacham’s recent Newsweek column captures the conversation and builds on it themes.