News reports and social media constantly remind us that today’s political system rewards conflict, viral moments, and ideological performance over thoughtful and courteous debate.
Tune into the melee, and it is as if every high-ranking official is now a TV political pundit rather than a serious statesman or stateswoman.
What’s missing in this denigrating political interaction is mindfulness, reflection, compassion, and gratitude. A Zen approach, if you will, is sorely lacking in the nation’s capital.
Instead, we’ve learned that treating political opponents with cruel insults and aggressive attacks is a successful way to win elections and gain more time on cable channels and podcasts.
A good example of this approach’s success is the Louisiana Republican primary, where incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy came under fire from President Donald Trump, who called Cassidy a “sleazebag,” a “terrible guy,” and a “disloyal disaster.” Cassidy’s offense? He voted to convict Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial over the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Cassidy went down in defeat, a loss for anyone who cares about health policy because Cassidy is a doctor who has a deep understanding of that policy.
Similarly, in a congressional primary in Maryland, two Democrats — former Rep. David Trone and incumbent Rep. April McClain Delaney — are painting each other as secret MAGA sympathizers, hoping that animosity toward Trump in the Democrat-leaning area will rub off on the opponent. The strategy is clear. Stain the other person’s reputation by claiming they are in league with what primary voters see as villains on the other side.
Perhaps this sort of politics as performance art is one reason a Pew Research Center survey showed the majority of Americans think the nation’s best years are behind us.
While I understand the sentiment, I’m not as pessimistic as those survey respondents. Many years as a healthcare lobbyist in Washington have taught me that, although what’s been happening lately is troubling, the system is not beyond repair.
Despite the malevolent ill will that we see masquerading as political discourse, Washington is still a place where respectful conversations about policy happen, even if those conversations are behind closed doors.
These lawmakers are colleagues, after all, and many of them have been working with each other for a long time. They are committed to doing good work; we just don’t hear about that enough.
Flee the Chaos, Practice Gratitude
But let’s not let them off the hook completely.
As constituents, our message to lawmakers should be this: Each of you has it within your power to lower the temperature in Washington. You need to create platforms for dialogue and space for contemplation and reflection.
Instead of jumping into the chaos, which probably is the easier thing to do, you must learn to walk away from it and find compassion for each other. You also should feel grateful to be in these roles. Gratitude renews the soul and the spirit, and should make you better representatives who can govern effectively.
And never forget that your job in Congress is to do good by your constituents, and not just look out for yourself or your party. When discussing legislation, find ways to communicate that create thoughtful deliberation and conclusions that are good for everyone.
Don’t Disregard Everything the Other Party Says
We as citizens have our own role to play in creating a less vituperative and more mindful approach to governance.
Sometimes our biases make us stubborn. We refuse to acknowledge any hint of good when ideas come from those we disagree with. But if we can avoid that trap, we can make policy strides — even if just small ones — in these otherwise hostile times.
Healthcare issues are a good example. It’s easy to find reasons to excoriate the current administration on health issues, and to scoff at the idea of Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, when something as basic as vaccinations has come under fire, putting the health of many Americans at risk.
But take a moment to sift through the debris and see if there is common ground. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made efforts to eliminate red dye 40 from food, which is a legitimate concern because it can make hyperactivity worse for some children.
Kennedy also announced earlier this year new dietary guidelines that encouraged Americans to avoid highly processed foods and to eat more fruits, vegetables, and other healthy food choices.
When the other side gets something right, there is no need to reject it out of hand, allowing politics to trump policy.
As citizens, we, too, need to walk away from the chaos, embrace mindfulness, and take our civic responsibility to petition our representatives seriously, advocate for issues we care about, and make sure those in power understand the ramifications of their decisions.
Taking a short pause for meditation and mindfulness won’t hurt either.
Gary Jacobs, author of “The Zen Lobbyist: A Mindful Approach to Transforming Healthcare,” is managing director at Healthsperien, a Washington, D.C.-based healthcare policy consulting firm. He is also an adjunct professor at American University and host of the podcast “Policy Prescriptions.” With over 40 years of experience in healthcare entrepreneurship, consulting, and policy advocacy, Jacobs drives bipartisan solutions to expand primary care access and reform public health programs. A certified meditation instructor, Jacobs combines mindfulness practices with executive strategy to help heal both patients and the people who care for them.
