Civility

Sixty-seven world leaders gathered in Washington for a civilized set of discussions about one of the world’s great dangers -- proliferation and the possible use of nuclear weapons. Barack Obama hosted the session, and by all accounts had numerous productive meetings with individual leaders. There was, as well, good chemistry for the meetings in general.

Perhaps what is most striking about this event is that constructive, substantive, meaningful, “sloganless” conversations are possible on an international scale of this type; the very thing that seems impossible in our domestic politics.

Imagine if Obama had gathered with sixty-seven high-level Republicans in Washington to try to work on any conceivable problem. How much substance would there be in the discussions? How much of it would consist of talking points? And how much of it would be a ready for FOX-news, prepackaged set of political slogans?

It is a sad commentary to reflect that we’ve come to the point where talking to foreigners is more enlightening and constructive than sharing our common desires to solve the nation’s domestic problems.  In fact, one of  the great concerns about things like the new nuclear arms control treaty and other potential restrictions on nuclear weapons is the difficulty anticipated in getting them through the United States Senate, where a two thirds majority is required to approve treaties.

The international conference in Washington, of course, created no goodwill for the President in the Capitol. Routine appointments, necessary to make the government function and to advance the policies of Mr. Obama are still being held up and in some cases abandoned because of the adamant resistance ofa  small number of senators. 

It’s fashionable to lament the lack of trust in the political process and to find all kinds of ways to blame  economic frustrations, scandals, or other explanations for these difficulties. But it’s increasingly clear that there is an even more basic problem at work here: for all of Obama’s commitment to bipartisanship and civility in conversation, it can’t be a one-way street. He’s found sixty-six foreign leaders willing to engage in policy making along those lines, when will he find sixty-six Senators?