We Need a Civics Reset

In this moment when divisions among us seem insurmountable, we need to develop younger leaders who know how to get into good trouble, argue their positions with civility, bring fresh energy to our problems, and close the gaps between us.

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Unsettled by the past few months of uncertainty and unrest, our family returned to my wife’s hometown for a reset over the holiday weekend.

As we walked past the mom and pops on Market Street in Corning, NY, it was impossible not to wonder what our sons’ grandfather would be doing if he were still with us. The former Chairman and CEO of Corning Glass Works (now Corning, Inc.), he had retired from business at age 60 and stood for office, serving nine terms in the US House of Representatives. A humble, gentle presence who stood equal to many of the most celebrated men of his generation, Amo Houghton had avoided the limelight and dedicated his life to this beloved community, the company, New York’s Southern Tier, and ultimately the nation.

He had been a pillar of strength and an anchor through several challenging periods of crisis. The Flood of 1972 (which had leveled Corning as if it were a “war zone”). Watergate. 1987 Stock…