There’s been a sharp and deadly uptick in American political violence over the last few years, culminating in deaths and a worrisome deterioration in our faith in and respect for democracy.
The New York Times published an investigation into rising political violence and the measures many politicians are taking to keep themselves and their families safe.
Lawmakers and voices on both sides of the aisle have been targeted, which, in a twisted way befitting our current state, gives us a bipartisan avenue to defuse the tensions driving us headlong into ruin.
Because political violence like that we’ve witnessed in recent years, is often a precursor to war.
And while we are still a while away from drawing actual battle lines, make no mistake we are at war of sorts.
America is already at war with democracy.
I get that statement will inspire immediate partisan finger-pointing.
But keep in mind the violence, both historically and now, has come from the left and right.
And it’s not only individuals targeted, but also the democratic institutions designed to prevent us from succumbing to our basest instincts to devour one another.
I’ve seen this unfold before, in other countries where political violence eventually led to civil conflicts that struck the death knell for their democracies.
We seem to believe that “American exceptionalism” will see us through any self-induced calamity.
But we shouldn’t count on it.
Instead, we all must make a concerted effort to lower the temperature and end the hostility stoking the increasingly volatile divide among Americans.
That’s why Postindustrial recently worked with Team Democracy to bring together people from across the political spectrum to engage in honest, respectful talk while doing something they love.
We did this hoping to foster dialogue and greater understanding among those suffering the same slings and arrows of the affordability crisis, even those they may consider their sworn political adversary.
Clearly, we can still come to some consensus even though we’re often pitted against one another. Right now, three-quarters of those polled about data centers don’t want one near their home. And that’s among Republicans and Democrats.
At another recent Team Democracy event I attended, folks I talked to, regardless of political allegiance, expressed similar concerns about the cost of healthcare.
We have plenty of common ground, and one of those concerns should be for the welfare of our democracy.
For if we don’t protect and cherish it, democracy can’t do the same for us.
