Eau Claire City Council Adopts ABA Resolution on Civil Public Discourse
On Tuesday, the Eau Claire City Council adopted a resolution urging all government officials, politicians, political parties, media, and advocacy groups to work harder for civil public discourse. The Eau Claire City Council resolution notes that dialogue, respectful communication, and informed public decision-making are central to civil public discourse, which is at the heart of American democracy. The Eau Claire City Council underscored the importance of:
- Demonstrating respect for opposing views;
- Listening to others with an open mind;
- Seeking opportunities to build community through collaboration and principled compromise;
- Striving for more civil public discourse in the conduct of officials duties and the affairs of government.
The Eau Claire resolution is a local endorsement of a national initiative launched by the American Bar Association (ABA)Â earlier this month. At its annual House of Delegates conference, the ABA approved a resolution urging lawyers, government officials, and all others involved in the political process to strive for more civil public discourse. Noting that “discourse today is too often just divisive gamemanship rather meaningful consideration of important public issues,” the accompanying ABA report on civility found:
“Contemporary political discourse continues to spiral to unprecedented levels of acrimony and venom, thereby endangering not only the quality of decision-making about important public issues, but also the very lives and safety of public servants and citizens. A true and free democratic society cannot long endure in such a toxic environment.”
In asking officials and advocacy groups at all levels of government to tone down the rhetoric, the ABA concluded:
“As in all matters, change in political discourse comes through striving for what we can do, rather than falling victim to what we cannot, and it is change in the political discourse that these resolutions so fundamentally seek. Perfection need not be the enemy of the good.”
Local governing bodies in Eau Claire demonstrate in meeting after meeting that vigorous debate about the public’s business can take place in an atmosphere of respect and civility. We should expect no less from all those engaged in public discourse at the state and national levels.