188. Disagree Better: Governor Spencer Cox with Judge Thomas Griffith at Restore
Oct 28, 2023
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Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Judge Thomas Griffith discuss the importance of disagreeing with civility, decline of religious associations, threat to American democracy, 'Disagree Better' initiative, engaging with differing viewpoints, power of disagreement, and building bridges.
Religious association plays a crucial role in building connections and unity in society, but the decline of religious affiliation and the rise of toxic tribalism are concerning.
To address toxic polarization, it is essential to bridge the perception gap between Republicans and Democrats, prioritize unity, and prevent political violence.
Deep dives
The Importance of Association and Religion
Governor Spencer J. Cox and Judge Thomas Griffith emphasize the significance of association and religion in building connections and unity. They highlight Alexis de Tocqueville's observations in 1831 about Americans forming associations and the role of religious association in bringing people together. However, they express concern over the decline of religious affiliation and the rise of loneliness and toxic tribalism in modern society. They discuss the impact of politics becoming a substitute for religion and the politicization of religious spaces, emphasizing the importance of finding common ground, moderation, and the need to bridge divides.
Perception Gap and Toxic Polarization
Governor Cox and Judge Griffith discuss the perception gap between Republicans and Democrats, which fuels toxic polarization. While actual partisan beliefs are not significantly different, the distorted perceptions of each other's beliefs are what contribute to the polarization. They highlight the increase in political violence and the danger it poses to the democratic institutions of the United States. They stress the urgency of addressing toxic polarization to prevent further damage, proposing that it requires a collective decision by the people to prioritize unity over hatred or resorting to violence.
Disagree Better Initiative and Depolarization
Governor Cox introduces the Disagree Better initiative, launched by the National Governor's Association, as a response to toxic polarization. This initiative focuses on depolarization and aims to promote civil and respectful disagreement. They share research findings from Stanford, which tested different interventions to combat polarization, including an advertisement featuring Governor Cox and his Democratic opponent during the 2020 election. The ad successfully reduced polarization and hostility among viewers. The initiative also involves recording similar ads with fellow governors and organizing convenings nationwide to spread the message of depolarization.
Latter-day Saints' Role in Overcoming Polarization
Governor Cox and Judge Griffith discuss the distinctive role of Latter-day Saints in overcoming toxic polarization. They highlight the teachings of President Nelson and President Oaks, calling on Latter-day Saints to be peacemakers and agents of reconciliation. They emphasize the need for humility, moderation, and unifying efforts among the followers of Jesus Christ. They suggest that the unique culture and teachings of Latter-day Saints, along with their history of building associations and communities, position them to help create a climate that pushes back against toxic polarization and supports the preservation of democratic institutions.
This week, we’re sharing with you one of sessions we had to kick off our Restore conference, which featured Utah Governor Spencer Cox along with Judge Thomas Griffith.
Before we get going, we’re very excited to announce that we’ve decided to give free digital access to all of our Restore recordings! Although we were joined by 3500 of our closest friends, we know there were so many who wanted to join us but couldn’t for a variety of reasons, so we decided to make all of the sessions available, free of charge. Please head to our YouTube channel and subscribe in order to make sure you see them when they drop in the next week or two.
Gov. Spencer J. Cox is is Utah’s 18th governor and is serving as the 2023-2024 chairman of the National Governors Association. He is developing a national reputation as both a bridge-builder and as a tenacious fighter against social media companies and their effects on teen mental health. That bridge-building is also the foundation of his NGA Chair’s Initiative called “Disagree Better.”
After Governor Cox’s initial remarks, you’ll hear him be joined on stage by Thomas Griffith, who was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit from 2004-2020. Currently, he is a Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School, a Fellow at the Wheatley Institution at Brigham Young University, and Senior Policy Advisor to the National Institute for Civil Discourse. Judge Griffith is also a trusted advisor and friend of Faith Matters.
These two were passionate in their advocacy for disagreement with civility and kindness, and we thought did an amazing job pointing a path forward in all areas of society where we find ourselves opposite someone else on an important issue. We really think this one’s memorable. Thanks as always for listening, and with that, we’ll jump right into the session.
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