We American voters are best suited to restore civility to our politics

A recent article about former Secretary of State Albright bad-mouthing our present President and Vice-President prompts this post. That she did so as part of the normal process of doing a book tour to sell her latest book pretty much spells out her motivations and conflicts of interest. And just about when I forgot how weak she was as Secretary of State, and that she was selected and nominated for that exact reason, well she popped up again, and will probably have her book do poorly, and fade back to where she came from. Personally I still find it appalling she did not know her family genealogy very well (a grandmother of the Jewish faith I seem to recall), or chose to hide it for political reasons. Either way, I was disappointed in her basic homework and honesty for a Secretary of State.

But this post is not about her. It is about civility in American politics. Just because you can say and transmit about anything using all available reporting media means does mean you should. Ideas like self-censorship, which have a terrible connotation, also imply restraint and good manners by those who practice it. Let me add another term, “gauche”, which Madame Albright’s manners certainly were. She was certainly lacking social grace and sensitivity. She was also awkward, crude, and tactless. Her performance was unworthy of a former senior level diplomat. Why she did this is only known by her, and maybe a few others.

I for one can figure things out on my own. I understand all others do not have to agree with me and my American politics, but I also don’t need behavior such as Ms. Albright’s to point this out. The era of shock politics and insults, and being caught up in the 24/7 news business cycle that leaves little time for judgment and investigative reporting has reached both a cultural and business level that will come down, as it always does. The recent debacle over the poor performance of polls hopefully will ruin a few careers, as it should since many paid reporting media Americans were reporting polls as “facts”.

My point is two-fold. The business cycle and consumers voting with our feet and pocket books will correct much of the media reporting imbalance that exists today. But we voters also need to include “restoring civility” as a consideration of whom to vote for.