Taking Your Civility Pulse. Walt McBride South Carolina Association of Counties Institute of Government for County Officials July 31, 2016

Transcription

1 Taking Your Civility Pulse Walt McBride South Carolina Association of Counties Institute of Government for County Officials July 31, 2016

2 What we ll be discussing Civility in general terms Why we disagree with one another Ways of dealing with conflict Thinking politically Rules of decorum What to do when it gets out of hand

3 Why should we listen to a fascist, or a socialist, or a right-wing nut, or a left-wing nut? It makes it nearly impossible for people who have legitimate but bridgeable differences to sit down at the same table and hash things out. - President Barak Obama in 2010 Commencement speech at University of Michigan

4 A Civility Lesson from Ben Franklin We are sent here to consult, not to contend, with each other; and declarations of a fixed opinion, and of determined resolution, never to change it, neither enlighten nor convince us. Positiveness and warmth on one side, naturally beget their like on the other harmony and union are extremely necessary to give weight to our Councils, and render them effectual in promoting and securing the common good.

5 Yeah, but Free Speech Democratic principles Politics is a contact sport Harsh words against injustice should never be off-limits It works!

6 Public policy is aimed at solving critical public issues How can we do that if we can t even talk to one another civilly?

7 Why Do Those People Act Uncivilly? Our perspective leads us to try to solve issues differently We have different views of the same issues Facts Goals Values Not a Rhetorical Question! Why do y all think we can t talk about issues civilly?

8 Public Values Dr. Phil Boyle, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia

9 Five Ways of Dealing with Conflict Forcing Collaborating Self Compromising Avoiding Accommodating Others

10 Getting to Yes Don t argue over positions! Produces unwise agreements Small concessions are inefficient Endangers ongoing relationships Even worse when there are many parties But being nice is not the answer

11 Getting to Yes The Method Separate the People from the Problem Focus on Interests, not Positions Invent Options of Mutual Gain Insist on Using Objective Criteria

12 Getting to Yes Yeah, but What if they re more powerful? Try collaboration Determine what you would take it an agreement can t be reached compromise What if they won t play? Don t attack position look behind it What if they use dirty tricks? Deliberate deception Phony facts Ambiguous Authority Stressful situations Refusal to negotiate Fisher, Roger & Ury, William Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement without Giving in. New York, NY: Penguin Books

13 But Does it Really Work? 2014 Study of Five Interventions Self-affirmation Learning Political Membership Last Observing Civility Superordinate Threat Reducing Zero Sum Perceptions

14 Leadership on the Line The lone warrior myth of leadership is a sure route to heroic suicide. Six Aspects of Thinking Politically One for dealing with those who are with, one for those in opposition, four for those who are uncommitted

15 Find Partners Be mindful that they may push their own agenda; they have other commitments they will be unwilling to give up They provide protection to maneuver They help you create alliances with other factions Partners from another faction can provide key intelligence necessary to improve ideas - and position - by incorporating other viewpoints

16 Keep the Opposition Close To survive and succeed, you must work closely with your opposition People opposed are usually those with the most to lose However, opposition also includes those in the middle resist simply because it may disrupt their lives or, make future uncertain

17 For those who are uncommitted Own your piece of the mess Acknowledge their loss Model the behavior Accept casualties

18 When All Else Fails We must resort to rules of decorum These rules help us manage debate They are designed to: Enable an assembly to transact business with speed and efficiency Protect the rights of the individual Preserve a spirit of harmony within the group Typically Robert s Rules of Order Association of Counties has a really good alternative

19 What to do When it Gets out of Hand You have the right to conduct business Rules of order allow you to remove unruly members of the audience And, members of the body Robert s RONR process of Dealing with Offenses Latest SC Attorney General Opinion What would your County Council do if a meeting went off the rails?

20 So Looking back to the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention, Webb draws these conclusions: Importance of civic friendship Importance of rules of procedure in debate Value of debating questions when there is basic agreement on direction Shifting away from interminable and charged debate leaders private negotiation by more moderate figures may resolve otherwise intractable disputes

21 Some Resources Civil Dialogue and Public Trust in Government Boyle s Public Problems, Values and Choices Model Rules of Parliamentary Procedure for South Carolina Counties, 2nd edition Webb s The Original Meaning of Civility: Democratic Deliberation at the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention

22 Contact Info Walt McBride University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government (770)