League of Women Voters of Oak Park & River Forest Newsletter October 2024 Volume 12 Issue 4

Vice-President's Letter

HOW DID WE BECOME SO POLITICALLY POLARIZED?


Former Representative Adam Kinzinger, (R-Ill 16 th district) said that he was disowned by his family after he left Congress and “lost the trust” of Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Kinzinger’s experience is, unfortunately, not an extreme example of the political polarization that has torn apart family and friends. Violence toward opposite groups occurs with increasing regularly. Civil political conversations often are impossible. Pew Research in 2022 said that half of American voters stopped talking politics with someone. They found that 85% of American voters felt misunderstood by

voters on the other side. A New York Times poll that same year found that 1 in 5 voters had political disagreements that hurt relationships with family and friends.

The partisan issues that contribute to polarization include protecting the environment, reforming gun policy, women’s health, immigration, and bolstering our military strength. Yet, differences in political ideals and policy goals should be indicative of a healthy democracy.


Ideological polarization, dislike and distrust of the opposite political party, cuts us off from large groups of Americans. In our daily lives we need to interact with people of different ideologies—friends, neighbors, coworkers. If we think of them as bad people, it is more difficult to interact with them. Inequality of opportunities for Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans contributes to the divide. Immigrants are held up as a threat rather than an asset. News organizations and social media platforms present false and untrue stories. Religious groups foment conflict by seeking to restrict school

curriculums and banning books at public libraries. Election politics also have contributed to the problem with lax donorship rules and gerrymandering, skewing the landscape. We need to change how primaries are conducted so that the loudest yelling voices are not the only ones that are heard. We need more debates and town halls that give voters an opportunity to ask questions directly.


The consequence of this polarization is gridlock in Congress and difficulty in talking to others in the opposing camp. What can we do to overcome our differences? Family and friends matter. We can begin to focus on issues rather than party. Break out of the media bubble. Learn to fact check what you read and hear. Learn to listen to differing opinions. Find projects that you can share with others in your community.


Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends is an American tradition. Yet sometimes it becomes a setting for political discussions and disagreements. The results of the November 5th election will be a source of dialogue and debate. How can we plan (like we do the dinner menu) to assure not only a moist turkey but respectful conversation? You could agree in advance not to talk politics. You could push a “pause” button if someone starts an unwelcome discussion. If political discussion is inevitable,

listen. Be curious, not furious. If you want to maintain a relationship with this person, back off. Don’t try to win. Avoid labels.


The challenge of talking politics after the election is the topic of our November 14, Coffee 'n Conversation program. Chuck Stone of Braver Angels, the group that is leading a charge to bridge the partisan divide, will lead a discussion on how to talk to groups of people on the other side of the divide. Join us at the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association on November 14 at 9:30am.


May your Thanksgiving be full of peace, love, and joy.


Beverly Tuck

Have you voted?

Today is the last day of early voting at the Oak Park Village Hall, from 9:00am-5:00pm. Starting Tuesday, you need to vote at your precinct. Go here to check your precinct and see what is on your ballot. The lines may be long on election day, so be prepared with your choices! Did you forget to register? You can register to vote at your precinct and then cast your ballot, but you will need to bring two pieces of identification with you. Want to know more about the judges on your ballot? You can go here to see their ratings from a variety of bar associations. The important thing is to go vote and to get your friends, neighbors, and family to vote also. Democracy is not a spectator sport!

Coffee 'n Conversation

On Thursday, November 14, at the next Coffee 'n Conversation event, Chuck Stone of Braver Angels will lead a discussion on how to lessen the effects of polarization when we encounter it in political discussions. This conversation will focus on how we regard and talk about large groups of ordinary people on the other side of the political aisle. As we retreat into our political silos, people on the other side become not just strangers but enemies. How we talk among ourselves about them fuels fires that threaten democracy. We will discuss how to disagree without stereotyping, dismissing, ridiculing, or showing contempt. We will talk about how to intervene in a constructive way in conversations that veer into contempt and ridicule. This event is at the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association, 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park, and goes from 9:30-11:00am.


Share this program with family and friends and invite them to join you! Free and open to the public.

Referendums for Oak Park

Just a reminder that there are six referendum questions on the ballot for Oak Park and just three for all of our neighboring communities. The three from the state are advisory and cover candidate interference with election workers, a tax on millionaires, and insurance coverage for reproductive treatments. Two from the Oak Park Township are on redistricting and whether an ordinance can be proposed and enacted by voter petition. These two are also advisory. The final Oak Park referendum question is binding and on Ranked Choice Voting for President and Trustees starting in 2027. You can go to our website for more information on these referendums.

Last call for membership renewal. There are still 25 members who have yet to renew. Do it online or download a hard copy to mail in. We need every member for the important work ahead.

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