GALLOWAY TWP.--- Two former Congressmen were the panelists, Tuesday evening, during a lecture at the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy called 'Civility in Government'.

"...I think politics tends to reflect the culture in which it operates, and we have a very contentious polarized society today," said former New York Congressman, Matthew McHugh.

McHugh, a Democrat, was joined by former Oklahoma Congressman 'Mickey' Edwards, a Republican, who discussed negative add campaigns, mud slinging and partisan attacks -- things that all too often enter into politics and government. The moderator of the discussion was Dr. David Carr, Provost and Exec. Vice President of Richard Stockton College.

Although on opposite sides of the political isle, both men became fast friends while on Capital Hill, and gave examples of how civility can and has existed at times in government, "....during the debate in the House over going into the first Gulf War, it was a very civilized debate, strong opinions but it was done in a very respectful and high minded way," said Edwards.

Despite both former Congressman saying that politics and society are becoming more course as time goes on, they also reminded everyone that the more things change, the more they stay the same, "....the ultimate act of incivility was Aaron Burr shooting Alexander Hamilton to death in a duel, so things have always been uncivil in some respects," said McHugh.