As a young child, Dr. Elizabeth Dudash-Buskirk learned about politics handing out fliers for family members running for office or joining her father at political rallies.
Now an associate professor of socio-political communication at Missouri State University, she teaches about political messages, commentary, debates and so much more. She’s here to discuss the shifts in the political communication process and how to be civil even while disagreeing.
She says that the internet, the flood of information, the posturing about specific platform issues online has made the U.S. ripe for the potential 3 or 4 party election. Why would a long-shot candidate stay in the race? Why wouldn’t they drop out? She says they want to put their issues out there and potentially change the system for good.
Those she classifies as “new voters” see alternatives to two parties and want to influence how the system will change. She elaborates.
Buskirk says the 1984 election was recognized as one of the worst for mud-slinging in recent history, but she expects this year to be worse. She says in order to be civil, you first have to listen.
