Opinion: Giving Tucker Carlson an Exit Ramp
Background
American politics today work like gang warfare. It is a recurring cycle of blame, humiliation, and revenge, punctuated by acts of violence. These kinds of feuds, commonly known as high conflicts, tend to enrage, trap, frustrate, drain and never seem to go away. Tucker Carlson, the conservative commentator, was fired by Fox News in a manner that was unexpected, given that he thought he could rely on his colleagues. This was a significant shock to him and Fox News, and it presents a great opportunity for him to change and move away from conflict mode.
The 1% Scenario
The firing presents an opening for someone Carlson trusts and respects to invite him to question the costs of the conflict between him and his colleagues. Is it possible for him to use his enormous influence to help de-escalate America’s current political schism, for the sake of his family and country? The probability is small, but it is worth taking considering the history of high conflict worldwide. High conflicts worldwide have been resolved because of people taking chances. Although it almost certainly won’t work, it’s worth trying anything that might work.
Family as a Reason for People to Exit High Conflict
Carlson can significantly reduce the odds of further political violence by changing how he talks about other Americans. Every high conflict is fueled by conflict entrepreneurs—people who exploit and inflame conflict for their own ends. They are always victims, aggrieved, and righteous, and someone else is always at fault. They cherry-pick facts and shade stories to ensure their followers feel threatened and disgusted by their neighbors and the government, which is when violence tends to happen. During Colombia’s civil war, whenever the national soccer team had a game, the government would run public-service ads inviting guerrilla enemies to disarm and return home to watch the next match with their families. Family might be the most common reason for people to exit high conflict.
Recovering from Conflict Entrepreneurship
Glenn Beck, a conflict entrepreneur, spent years stoking the fear of his mostly white audience on CNN, Fox News, and his own subscription TV network. In his first fourteen months on Fox News, Beck and his guests alluded to Hitler, Nazis, fascism, the Holocaust, and Joseph Goebbels hundreds of times. Then he started expressing regret and handing out $2 million in toys and food at the US-Mexico border. For a while, he even tried to persuade other media personalities to leave high conflict with him. However, Beck had nowhere to go because he was distrusted and demonized by both the left and the right.
The Way Forward
If we want a better world for our children, we need to invite everyone, including conflict entrepreneurs, to remedy grievances instead of amplifying them. We also need to strengthen our institutions rather than denigrating them. It’s important not to give up on conflict entrepreneurs altogether because they are powerful, and one day they might find another place to put their pain. Pointing them to an exit ramp can help prevent high conflict from escalating further. High conflict poisons the soul and turns us into people we don’t want to be. Therefore, it’s vital to find an exit ramp.
<< photo by Markus Spiske >>
