Dignity in public debate involves making proposals, declaring values, stating goals and discussing decisions, actions, and outcomes. It includes listening carefully, asking for more information, debating why something worked or didn’t work, and whether it will work or why it won’t. In the 3rd Congressional District debate, Rep. Curtis and Mr. Wright frequently responded to each other’s comments, often with agreement, and then adding a point of difference. In some cases, it seemed like the event was less a debate than it was an exercise in problem solving.

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The Dignity Index is an eight-point scale that measures what we do when we disagree. The scale ranges from one -- which sees no dignity at all in the other side -- to eight, which sees the dignity in everyone. Each point on the scale reflects a particular mindset, and each mindset is associated with certain beliefs and behaviors that reflect how open we are to the other side. As a broad rule, if I treat you with dignity, it means that I can see myself in you; if I treat you with contempt, it means I see myself above you.

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A national movement to increase dignity in public discourse launches a pilot program in Utah today, rating public messages from Utah’s federal Senate and House races on a scale called, The Dignity Index. Powered by UNITE, a national movement to encourage Americans to reject "us vs. them" thinking and stand together in common purpose, The Dignity Index was developed in partnership with behavioral scientists and other experts, and the demonstration project is being guided by researchers at the University of Utah. The Index is a 1-8 scale designed to rate speech, not people, in as unbiased manner as possible.

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Though we like to think of ourselves as exceptional, the causes and cures of division and violence are the same in the United States as anywhere else — and they all pivot on questions of dignity.

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