Where has civility gone in American society?
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 3:23 pm
You and I both have the right to state our opinions and agree to disagree in discussions without the risk of being verbally or physically abused by the other side but it seems like that's impossible in today's climate.
The reason may be the extreme polarization of American society to a degree I've never seen in my lifetime. 48% Republican, 48% Democrat and only 4% in the middle. Politicians get elected by appealing to their base, so they talk at (not to) their opponents, point fingers and refuse to work with them to find a solution to important issues. Therefore, nothing gets done in Washington and the many problems facing America remain unsolved. Instead they try to distract voters with rhetoric about non-issues like standing for the national anthem, transgender bathrooms and Confederate statues and never attempt to work on solving the REAL problems facing our nation like the national debt, properly funding Social Security and Medicare so they will still be around for younger citizens and creating a healthcare that both works and also has proper cost controls. If they attempt to work together for a common solution, politicians risk being "primaried" by the fanatics in their own party and losing their seats.
If this continues, I really fear for this country's future. Remember, the Constitution was a result of compromise by both the Northern and Southern states to find solutions to common issues like small states vs. large ones and slavery. Heck, the Civil War could have been avoided if moderates from both North and South had had some time to hash out a compromise to end slavery in the Southern states gradually over a 20 year period, for example.
You younger folks are going to be the ones to lead the USA in the future. Work together and maybe the USA can be saved and not fragment into several mini-nations all at each other's throats.
The reason may be the extreme polarization of American society to a degree I've never seen in my lifetime. 48% Republican, 48% Democrat and only 4% in the middle. Politicians get elected by appealing to their base, so they talk at (not to) their opponents, point fingers and refuse to work with them to find a solution to important issues. Therefore, nothing gets done in Washington and the many problems facing America remain unsolved. Instead they try to distract voters with rhetoric about non-issues like standing for the national anthem, transgender bathrooms and Confederate statues and never attempt to work on solving the REAL problems facing our nation like the national debt, properly funding Social Security and Medicare so they will still be around for younger citizens and creating a healthcare that both works and also has proper cost controls. If they attempt to work together for a common solution, politicians risk being "primaried" by the fanatics in their own party and losing their seats.
If this continues, I really fear for this country's future. Remember, the Constitution was a result of compromise by both the Northern and Southern states to find solutions to common issues like small states vs. large ones and slavery. Heck, the Civil War could have been avoided if moderates from both North and South had had some time to hash out a compromise to end slavery in the Southern states gradually over a 20 year period, for example.
You younger folks are going to be the ones to lead the USA in the future. Work together and maybe the USA can be saved and not fragment into several mini-nations all at each other's throats.