Americans Believe Political Incivility Discourages People from Entering Public Service
Political incivility is taking a toll on American’s interest in running for office. The sixth installment of Civility in America, the ongoing poll by Weber Shandwick, Powell Tate and KRC Research, found that Americans believe incivility has a deterrent effect on engaging in political life.
Nearly six in 10 Americans (58 percent) say incivility in politics discourages people from going into public service. Democrats are significantly more likely than Republicans to agree (63 percent vs. 56 percent, respectively). The poll did not find significant differences by gender or where Americans lived. Nearly one out of two millennials (55 percent) stated that people are deterred from public service due to the nation’s tone and level of civility.
These findings represent some of the compelling insights revealed in Civility in America. Weber Shandwick previously released findings from the study that explore the impact that civility/incivility is having on voters’ attitudes around the 2016 presidential election. For more information on the political implications of civility, click here.