See? Liberalism IS a mental disorder....

N.O.Bronco said

Thinking about this recently, Im not so sure civil discourse ever really did exist in this country. I mean unless you think settling arbitrary arguments with pistol duels is civil and noble. That campaign rhetoric such as telling potential voters that Thomas Jefferson was an infidel and if elected would subdue all wives and daughters to a lifetime of prostitution and debauchery is classy. Or how about Ben Franklins grandson writing about Washington:

"If ever a nation was debauched by a man, the American nation has been debauched by Washington."

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I realize there's always been that element out there. The stuff written about Lincoln while he was in office for example was really sensational. However, to say everything in the past mirrored the Hamilton v Burr "debate" is a bit of much and that element shouldn't be the norm. Lincoln v Douglas is an example of how the world does turn on a good civil debate. If Lincoln had just sat there and called Douglas a big, dumb, poopie head, we may live in a different world.

Yes, the crazies will always have their stuff published, but that doesn't mean that way of communicating should become the dominant method.