Why Civility is Not Enough

For years, civility has been promoted as the answer to America’s deepening divisions. Leaders and pundits have called for a softening of voices, an opening of ears, and a renewed focus on finding common ground. It’s an appealing idea, one that speaks to the better angels of our nature, but it falls short when it comes to addressing the systemic challenges that shape our lives. Civility is not enough when the issues at hand require more than words—they demand action.

America’s challenges are not born out of a lack of politeness. They stem from failures to act decisively on issues that affect every citizen. Rising healthcare costs, stagnant wages, and legislative gridlock are not matters of tone; they are crises of inaction. Polite conversation may ease the tension in the room, but it cannot rebuild trust in institutions or deliver the meaningful results Americans need and deserve.

Consider the issue of healthcare. Families across the country are struggling to afford the care they need. Yet the debates in Washington remain trapped in a cyclical loop of partisan talking points. Civility won’t lower a single medical bill, won’t make care more effective or affordable, and won’t alleviate the fear that one unexpected medical crisis could ruin a family financially. Trust in the system is restored only when results—not rhetoric—demonstrate that the system is working for everyone.

The same holds true for infrastructure. America’s roads, bridges, and transit systems are in a state of alarming disrepair, even though the issue enjoys broad bipartisan agreement. Every year of delay exacerbates the problem, with costs mounting for local economies and communities. Experts estimate that failing to address these challenges could result in $10 trillion in lost GDP by 2039, a staggering figure that underscores the price of inaction. Civility won’t repair a single bridge or create a single job. Only collective determination and practical action can move us forward.

This frustration—the growing sense that leaders are unwilling or unable to deliver—isn’t just about disagreement. It is about the consequences of inaction. Asking people to “just get along” while their struggles are ignored only deepens disillusionment. Dialogue is not enough to restore faith in a system that, for too many, appears broken. What people need is progress, something tangible that reminds them their voices matter and that the institutions built to serve them are capable of doing so.

Gridlock in Washington has made these challenges worse. Political stalemates delay reforms that could ease the burden of healthcare costs, improve access to education, and modernize infrastructure. The longer these issues remain unaddressed, the more ordinary Americans feel the strain. But perhaps the most damaging consequence of gridlock is the erosion of trust in democracy itself. When people see leaders unwilling to work together for the common good, it reinforces the belief that our system is irreparably broken. This erosion of trust is not simply a political issue—it strikes at the foundation of the shared purpose and collective identity that democracy depends on.

The Grand Bargain Project offers a different approach. It does not ask people to bury their differences or abandon their deeply held beliefs. Instead, it starts with a pragmatic question: What are the problems we can solve together? Collaboration does not require agreement on everything. It requires mutual recognition of shared goals and a willingness to engage in hard, practical work to achieve them. People don’t have to like each other to cooperate; they just need to see clear and mutual benefits.

Our approach is one of ruthless pragmatism, where we aim to unite diverse factions of the American people—individuals who may have little in common, who may not even like each other, and who may disagree on most political issues. Yet they can still join together in common cause when they see elements of the Grand Bargain as being in their own interest. It’s not about softening attitudes at the outset; it’s about making progress. However, history and experience show that when people work together toward shared objectives, even through gritted teeth, something remarkable happens. Over time, they begin to see each other’s humanity. Differences that once felt insurmountable start to soften. Collaboration built on necessity has the power to grow into compassion.

By focusing on six critical areas—economic mobility, education reform, healthcare, clean energy, tax simplification, and national debt reduction—the Grand Bargain offers a framework where everyone has something to gain. These are not abstract priorities; they are real issues that touch the lives of every American. And history shows us that when the stakes are high and the solutions are clear, collaboration becomes not just possible but inevitable.

Civility has its place. It can open the door to conversations that matter, but it cannot carry the weight of systemic reform. The challenges we face are too significant to be solved by politeness alone. The Grand Bargain Project is a reminder that unity does not come from words; it comes from shared purpose and shared action. By focusing on goals that resonate across divides, we can build something stronger than fleeting consensus. We can build a future defined by trust, collaboration, and progress.

The cost of inaction is too high. The time for results is now.