Survey says Politics, Culture Lack Civility

Politico's Roger Simon writes today about a new survey on incivility in America. It's interesting stuff, so I recommend reading the whole piece. But here's an excerpt to chew on:

Perhaps the most fascinating part of the survey was that in which people were asked to assign a degree of incivility to 25 American institutions. Here's the list from least civil to most civil. The categories in bold are those that have experienced a significant rise in incivility over the past year:Political campaigns: 80 percentPop culture: 75 percentMedia: 74 percentGovernment: 73 percentMusic industry: 71 percentSchools: 63 percentRepublicans in Congress: 60 percentYouTube: 58 percentBlogs: 55 percentAmerican business: 48 percentTwitter: 38 percentMSNBC: 37 percentCNN: 32 percentThe New York Times: 29 percentPresident Obama: 28 percentWorkplace: 28 percentOprah: 17 percentFriends and family: 13 percentConversation at dinner table: 7 percent

Political campaigns: 80 percent

Pop culture: 75 percent

Media: 74 percent

Government: 73 percent

Music industry: 71 percent

American public: 70 percent

Professional sports: 68 percent

Schools: 63 percent

Republicans in Congress: 60 percent

Supporters of the tea party: 60 percent

YouTube: 58 percent

Democrats in Congress: 56 percent

Blogs: 55 percent

Fox News: 51 percent

Social networks: 49 percent

American business: 48 percent

Twitter: 38 percent

MSNBC: 37 percent

CNN: 32 percent

The New York Times: 29 percent

President Obama: 28 percent

Workplace: 28 percent

Oprah: 17 percent

Friends and family: 13 percent

Conversation at dinner table: 7 percent

I think it's understandable that the worst scores go to stuff most Americans feel they have the least control over - politics, media and the culture. Things they can personally impact, friends, family, dinnner conversations, the workplace, get the higher marks. Oh, and Oprah. Always Oprah.

But politics, the media and culture are also reflective. People do have an impact, with votes and bucks and pageviews. They contend these institutions are teaming with incivility, and yet, we're the ones that give them power and popularity. We can't look away from popular culture/political train wrecks. Negative campaigning works, etc.

I think we both abhor and crave incivility. What do you think?