Is Harsh Political Rhetoric Causing Political Violence?

A recent survey shows more and more Americans are coming to share the opinion that members of both political parties are being too harsh when criticizing their opponents. Bret and Veronica explored this thought with the president and CEO of the San Diego-based National Conflict Resolution Center.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
A recent Gallup survey has found that larger majorities of
Americans than in the past believe that both the Democratic
and Republican parties have gone too far in using inflammatory
language to criticize their opponents.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
And the survey was done a few months ago before
what happened at the White House correspondencetenter this weekend, and
it's resulted in a renewed debate over the possible impact
of the rhetoric leading to acts of political violence.

Speaker 1 (00:25):
On the Cocoa Newese liveline is Stephen Dinkin, the president
and CEO the San Diego based National Conflict Resolution Center. Stephen,
thank you so much for joining.

Speaker 3 (00:33):
Us my pleasure.

Speaker 1 (00:34):
Do you think the inflammatory language can lead to violent acts?

Speaker 3 (00:38):
I absolutely think that's the case, and we've seen as
a result of that increase polarization, division and society that
there has been an increase of rhetoric across society that's
tended to radicalize people's views and has led to more
political violence.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
Now, there's probably two different to this, But what do
you think should be done and what can be done
to tone down the rhetoric.

Speaker 3 (01:05):
There's really a host of different issues that are occurring
in society that are dividing us, that are leading to
this increased rhetoric. One is just our political system, the
way that there's been an increase of political jerrymandering and
redistricting that we're currently seen on the way, for example,

(01:27):
to the primary elections, where people tend to stay within
their own silos. If you're in a district that has
been gerrymannered, then you can just keep within that same view.
The politician doesn't need to cater to different points of view.
So what's happening is that people are increasingly staying within

(01:50):
their own silo and not conversing with others that might
have a different political perspective, which is leaning to increased
by and polarization.

Speaker 1 (02:01):
We're speaking with Stephen dink In, the president and CEO
of the San Diego based National Conflict Resolution Center. You know, Stephen,
we saw a recent post on social media that we
thought was a pretty good example of division being described
among friends and family members, and it read you see
President Trump's arrogance, I see his confidence. So how do
you find common ground when two sides see things so differently?

Speaker 3 (02:24):
People have different perspectives, and that's part of what's happened
in our society where we are increasingly divided politically on
the left of the progressive activists and the traditional liberal view,
and then on the right you have the more devoted conservatives.

(02:44):
And what's happening is that the center is increasingly shrinking.
So that's been the challenge, and I think the key
is that as a society, and this is what we're
teaching the National Conflict Resolution Center, is that we have
to poke on constructive conversation. We need to listen to
each other, we need to engage with each other. We

(03:06):
need to be curious about other points of view rather
than just being antagonistic with someone who has a different perspective,
because in that situation we just tend to dehumanize the
other person and assume motives that might not even be true.
So it's that connection with individuals through constructive conversation that

(03:27):
we teach at the National Conflict Resolution Center that's so critical.

Speaker 2 (03:30):
Do you feel hope that we are going to get
back to a civilized society?

Speaker 3 (03:35):
I am hopeful. I think the key to that is
to expand the middle. We might not ever completely persuade
those on the extreme, but what we can do is
to continue to build out the center where the majority
becomes the stronger voice. Right now we're just hearing the

(03:56):
radical voice. But the key and what gives me optimism
is that the individuals in the center, if we can
expand that, I think there's there's hope for the future.

Speaker 1 (04:07):
Stephen, thank you so much for joining us on San
Diego's Morning News.

Speaker 3 (04:10):
My pleasure.

Speaker 1 (04:11):
Stephen Dinkin, the President and CEO of the San Diego
based National Conflict Resolution Center