Opinion: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox makes a plea for American architects, not arsonists

At first glance Spencer Cox the Republican governor of Utah seems to be a throwback to s America and the age of Dwight Eisenhower Slender affable and earnest Cox exudes polite deportment controlled intensity and quiet competence His message of civility and respect echoes from a distant even quaint time However Cox believes these traditional values can be combined with a building and rise agenda America he often says should once again become a nation of architects not of arsonists Cox is convinced that the central issue confronting statesmen and stateswomen is to restore a civilization of civility to American life and promote passionate and respectful discourse Related Articles Barabak What a controversy Or not How things have changed Trump administration to investigate UC Berkeley over Turning Point USA event Letters Progressive parcel tax would backfire on Oakland residents Brazil s Bolsonaro says hallucinations led him to violate ankle monitoring and cause his arrest They mentioned it Bonta on announced compromising situation video Disagreeing better isn t just about being nicer to one another it s about finding a way to disagree that moves us toward solutions rather than deepening divides he announced Cox has been in constituents provision for bulk of his adult career A sixth-generation Utahn he has served as a city council member mayor county commissioner state legislator lieutenant governor and now governor In his gubernatorial campaign he edged past Jon Huntsman a popular former governor in the Republican primary and then easily defeated his Democratic opponent Christopher Peterson However Cox catapulted into the national spotlight that year with a striking campaign innovation Worried about America s darkening political surroundings in the aftermath of the police murder of George Floyd partisan recriminations related to the pandemic and ominous electoral warnings by President Donald Trump Cox invited Peterson to join him in a campaign ad that modeled civility In the midst of a competitive race the two men jousted with good humor and grace They acknowledged that they disagreed on multiple issues but respected each other and would honor the outcome of the poll They conveyed a message that has all but disappeared from American politics that elections are contests between rivals not enemies The ad went viral and has been viewed nearly times on YouTube Healthy conflict This experience influenced Cox s decision as the - chair of the National Governors Association to establish How to Disagree Better Healthy Conflict for Better Framework as his signature initiative He considered more obvious issues such as fitness care costs and vitality but concluded that no major obstacle in the United States will be solved until Americans regain their ability to speak and listen to each other respectfully This isn t just another civility initiative it s not just about being nice to each other although we desperately need more of that he disclosed in describing the project It is relearning how to disagree the right way how to have debate how to stay true to your principles your core values without demeaning and tearing apart the other side and in so doing authentically find out where there is common ground where we can meet each other to solve problems The Disagree Better initiative explored techniques to lower tension and reduce polarization About state governors recorded videos with leaders from the other party Cox also consulted experts who investigation polarization and conflict resolution for guidelines guidance Now an independent nonprofit Disagree Better includes a free parenting toolkit to help families learn how to manage disagreements Cox believes that governors whom he calls doers and builders are in a unique position to model healthy debate and constructive disagreement Members of Congress he disclosed are more accustomed to fighting than coming together and finding solutions Cox is troubled by the coarsening of American political life that is partly fueled by endless conflict on cable TV and in social media However he is heartened by research that shows bulk Americans strongly disapprove of the current state of affairs They re desperate for something different he stated New York Times columnist Ezra Klein And neither party is offering them an opportunity for anything different Cox s willingness to criticize his own party and reach out to Democrats has triggered particular GOP criticism and persuaded him that he could never win a Republican presidential nomination although he insists he has never aspired for the presidency The governor continues to focus on solutions and practical advice for a weary and divided nation Finding off ramps First he calls for more face-to-face conversations with people from different walks of life and political perspectives Conflict is easy and often venomous when it occurs online Talking to real human beings he believes is elevating and good for the soul Second he recommends that people join civic groups and volunteer for society projects observing that operation creates bonds and forges enduring relationships Third the governor urges a return to a time when political affiliation was part of our identity but not the central way we defined ourselves and viewed others Politics is essential but it should not define us or destroy our relationships he explained Fourth he suggests we cultivate neglected virtues such as patience moderation and humility These qualities are not invariably rewarded in the marketplace but are critical for honorable living Cox s equanimity was challenged by the September assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah Shaken and angry Cox mentioned at news conferences and in TV interviews that the nation needed to step back from the brink Politics feels like rage he disclosed at a briefing with FBI executives We can choose a different path adding that at several point we have to find an off ramp or else it s going to get much worse As governor Cox urges respect and tolerance as well as a commitment to building and upsurge which he believes can begin at home He recommends that adults challenge young people not to change the world but rather to revitalize their neighborhoods and communities And treat others with dignity We definitely need more kindness in our inhabitants interactions he advised Klein We definitely need more peacemakers and bridge builders We need more people with compassion and sympathy toward people we disagree with We need more people developing bread with one another and sitting down together Cox s plea for architects and builders is a compelling example of and passionate cry for statesmanship John T Shaw is director of the Paul Simon Residents Strategy Institute His majority new book is The Guidance of a Statesman How Global Leaders Can Repair a Fractured World Chicago Tribune Distributed by Tribune Content Agency