Actually, Max is correct in terms of history. The only reason why it feels greater now is because we SEE it on a 24/7 basis. In the 1700's, they didn't have the immediacy of news but it also made it easier to get away with things. The news media has also had the effect of turning completely un-interesting and un-important information into heated debates. This is particularly true of talk radio. I've seen it in here and I think it is true in most mediums. People don't really want to talk civilly or look at the long, difficult and complex solutions to problems. They want to be entertained and argue. They would rather listen to an argument than a lecture, attend a fight than a discussion group because it is more entertaining. The problem for me is that entertainers have attempted to morph entertainment into political ideology. With all due respect to Bill Mahr or Dennis Miller or Al Franken, I can find solutions to complex problems through their one-liner's about as effectively as I can get nutritional information from the back of a cereal box. But people like simple, packaged answers even though they RARELY answer the difficult questions. Because finding REAL solutions is way too much work for most people. They'd prefer to just be entertained and think they know the answers.
You guys should study history more. During the years leading up to the Civil War there were physical altercations in the U.S Congress and Senate during debates.
