Former Secretary of State and Arkansas First Lady Hillary Clinton visited Little Rock on Friday, where she shared her ideas on a perceived decline in democracy and civic engagement. Clinton was part of a panel discussion hosted by the Clinton Foundation at the Robinson Center in downtown Little Rock.

Clinton said one of the main issues facing democracy is an increase in polarization. She said the lack of social groups and gatherings is a contributing factor.

“We were big joiners in the United States. In the informal basis of backyard barbecue with your neighborhood, or on a formal basis if you joined the Kiwanis, the Rotary Club or Girl Scouts or whatever else you join,” she said. “All of a sudden that was diminishing, and polarization and divisiveness was increasing.”

Hillary Clinton visits Little Rock, speaks on decline of civic engagement (ualrpublicradio.org)