By U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Bill Cassidy
America was founded by extraordinary individuals who engaged in spirited debate and then came together to build a more perfect union. That was true 248 years ago, and it is still the ideal today. Solution-oriented leaders who are willing to work across the aisle can work through differences through respectful, robust debate.
Too often, what passes for debate in politics today is bitter yelling and talking points. Worse, opposing views are often canceled without debate even taking place. Improving public discourse can begin with each of us.
Authors Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, junior U.S. senator from Rhode Island) and Bill Cassidy (Republican, senior U.S. senator from Louisiana) condemn the recent violence against former President Trump and emphasize the importance of resolving issues peacefully through reasoned discourse and fair elections. They highlight their efforts in the Senate Project, where bipartisan discussions focused on critical issues like climate change, immigration, and healthcare, aiming to demonstrate that finding common ground doesn’t require sacrificing values.
They draw inspiration from the collaborative legacies of Senators Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch, who exemplified cross-party cooperation to enact beneficial legislation. Although the Senate has become more polarized, the authors express their commitment to fostering bipartisan solutions through collaborative initiatives, like their joint bills aimed at addressing environmental and healthcare challenges. They believe in the Senate’s potential to improve public discourse and work together for the benefit of all Americans.
For the article: https://www.newsweek.com/senators-we-can-still-find-common-ground-principled-debate-opinion-1932323