A dozen or so people, diverse in age, ethnicity, and political leanings, have agreed to be part of a year-long experiment in civil discourse. Each month, we bring you a conversation with members of the group. Our aim: to observe whether the tone and quality of the conversation changes as they get to know one another over the course of the year. And because it is a grand experiment, today will be a little different. Instead of talking with them in small groups of three – we’re in a round table