"The effort to raise the level of sociopolitical discourse has failed miserably"

[Teresa]

Instant 'news', sound bites and the internet's enablement of anyone to be 'the media'.

I think these are major changes in politics since my youth.

Couple these with much lower standards of civil behavior and discourse in general and you end up with the messiness we have now.

agree!

people & politics are the same, as skunky states, but society has changed in ways its hard to even begin to fathom. TV and internet, cell phones, and all manner of technology has changed everything about the way we live and interact. there are other factors, such as how we raise our children, that enter into the equation. have children and young adults always been so "entitled" and so seriously immune to manners, with absolutely no shame? or is this what all "old" people say about the younger generation? (skunky may have a point - seems like I remember my grandparents railing about the young people having no manners, etc)...