LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Four of Michigan’s living former governors came together in Lansing this week to encourage more respectful political dialogue and bipartisan cooperation.
The event, hosted by the Michigan Civility Coalition, featured former Governors John Engler, Jim Blanchard, Rick Snyder, and Jennifer Granholm. The group discussed rising political polarization and the role both leaders and voters play in shaping public discourse.
Snyder said the country’s greatest challenge may not come from foreign adversaries, but from division within the United States.
“We have huge threats. You can argue about North Korea. You can argue about Russia and Iran. The greatest threat to America, in my view, is us,” Snyder said.
Granholm emphasized the importance of recognizing shared values across political lines, noting Americans still have many things in common.
“We all breathe the same air. We all inhabit this small planet… And importantly, we all love our country,” Granholm said.
Blanchard said the current political climate is unlike what he experienced during his decades in public service, calling today’s divisions abnormal compared to earlier eras of government cooperation.
“I never would have thought we would have to have a forum like this… In fact, if it was 2015, we wouldn’t be hosting a forum on civility,” Blanchard said.
The former governors also pointed to the influence of social media and declining trust in traditional news outlets as major drivers of polarization. Engler said online platforms allow misinformation to spread quickly and often without accountability.
“Not only is there no check on truthfulness… Often it’s anonymous. You have people that say things there; they can say whatever they want, and you don’t know who said it,” Engler said.
Throughout the discussion, the governors highlighted bipartisan collaboration as a potential solution. They encouraged voters to support candidates willing to work across party lines and urged community members to become more involved in civic engagement.
The panel concluded with a call for Michiganders to model respectful political dialogue in their daily lives and help rebuild trust in democratic institutions.
