Former Congressmen John Brademas and Mickey Edwards on Lack of Civility in Politics

NEW YORK, June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- America's political system has become a war between "two private clubs to which we have surrendered the election process," according to former Republican Congressman Mickey Edwards.

Edwards and former Democratic Congressman John Brademas, speaking at a forum on civility in politics, both agreed that while there was no "golden age of civility in politics," even during the era of Civil Rights, the Vietnam War and Watergate, "leaders could still find common ground and work together on important issues."

"We worked together -- Republicans and Democrats," Brademas said.

Brademas and Edwards spoke as part of a series on civility in America at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. The series is being sponsored by The Dilenschneider Group to mark the firm's 20th anniversary, in conjunction with the Carnegie Council.

Edwards, who is a lecturer at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and vice president of the Aspen Institute said, "We need a new kind of politics that's not based on party."

Many factors contribute to the current lack of civility in politics, they said, including the fact that politicians from both sides of the aisle no longer have time to develop friendships. Today they are too busy fundraising and corresponding electronically with their constituents.

The former legislators offered recommendations to help restore civility and balance in politics.

More states should create nonpartisan redistricting commissions to prevent gerrymandering, they said. This would require legislators to build support among both Democrats and Republicans and perfect the art of compromise.

"When consensus is not possible, compromise is essential," Edwards said, pointing out that while he and Brademas were in Congress, members of both parties passed landmark legislation, such as Medicare and Medicaid.

To improve the system, they also recommended campaign finance reform in order to ease the relentless chase for dollars and reduce the influence of large special interest donors; establishing open primaries; making committee selections that are not based on party affiliation; and creating more programs to encourage young people to pursue careers in public service.

In concluding, Edwards said, "Having legislative bodies that can work together instead of brawling is fundamental to our nation; we must see ourselves as Americans and not separate rival clubs who can't talk together. Compromise is impossible when you draw lines based on party affiliations."

Brademas represented Indiana's Third District for 22 years (1959-1981) in the U.S. House of Representatives. He subsequently served as president of New York University from 1981 to 1992. He is currently president emeritus of the university and president of the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center of New York University Foundation.

Edwards was a member of Congress for 16 years, during which time he was a member of the House Republican Leadership, a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, and the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Foreign Operations. He is author or co-author of three books and is currently writing a book on American conservatism and the Constitution to be published in 2012 by Oxford University Press.

The Dilenschneider Group, Inc. (http://www.dilenschneider.com) provides to a limited and select few access to the finest communications professionals in the world, with experience in fields ranging from mergers and acquisitions and crisis communications to marketing, government affairs and international media.

The Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs (www.carnegiecouncil.org), established in 1914 by Andrew Carnegie, is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing understanding of the relationship between ethics and international affairs.

SOURCE Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs