American people Quote by Tom Allen
“Incivility is a symptom, not the disease. We've always had partisan conflict in Congress, and we always will. Yet when I worked for a year (1970-71) on the staff of Sen. Ed Muskie of Maine, this was a different place, more collegial, more sensitive to data, more concerned about all of the American people. I think because the for-profit media prizes conflict above cooperation and sound bites above analysis, politicians have learned to adapt to those tendencies. Consequently, our public debates are dumbed down as our problems grow more complex.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview with Tom Allen, 2023
Incivility reflects deeper issues; media rewards conflict, leading to shallow public debate despite complex problems.
In simple terms: Conflict is a symptom, not the root cause.
Key Takeaway
Address media incentives and foster nuanced dialogue.
Themes
politics
media
communication
public discourse
conflict
Mood
critical
concerned
optimistic
Type
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- Congressional hearings
- news panels
- public forums
- educational workshops
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
media economics
polarization
Questions to Reflect On
- How can media be incentivized to prioritize analysis?
- What personal habits reduce susceptibility to conflict-driven narratives?
A Different Perspective
Media profit motives can limit depth of discussion.
![“It's the rising tide of enmity in the country, Donald Trump attacking judges, Donald Trump attacking John McCain, Senator [Richard] Blumenthal, the town halls, the riots in Berkeley. You have got the incivility on the floor of the United States Senate. You have got just a rising tide, every single…” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/950/david-brooks-644_attacking_it-s-the-rising-tide-of-enmity-in-the-co_1528117.jpg)
