Civility is now a foreign concept in Americans politics. How did we get here — and how do we fix it?

Election season is already upon us and the passions of our tribal politics are rising to a full boil. … We’re once again facing the frustrating prospect of watching our candidates’ debates get hijacked by the angriest and loudest voices in the room.

To prevent this from becoming reality, we need a conscious effort to restore civility, even as it becomes increasingly difficult. But this effort is valuable because the stakes have seldom been higher.

But how do we get there? And what can civic-minded Americans do to help? CONT.

Charles J. Sykes & Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer, NBC News