griff wrote:

 This is a well developed conspiracy to astroturf a turn to the hard right when most of the country lands in the broad middle. Disgusting. 

UT had posted a survey that does appear to accurately describe what has happened.  Since extremists dominate the airwaves with only soundbytes.

The number of right wing extremists and left wing extremists have both exceeded the number of moderates - the patriots.  A recent Ted Koppel piece (yes he is still out there) demonstrates what has changed.

One need not learn from 1920-1930s history to see what results.

America advanced towards dictatorship in the McCarthy era.  Movie Oppenheimer only glosses over this attitude.  That later resulted in useless deaths of some 50,000 Americans in Vietnam.  Another 5,000 wasted for no purpose in Iraq.  And the US defeat in Afghanistan.  Too many extremists making decisions from their rhetoric.  Not doing what moderates do.  First learn facts long before making decisions.

We have a decreasing number of moderates.  That is not good.

Worse, this latest generation, in increasing numbers, do not have an attention span necessary to read even ten paragraphs.  An observation (not a fact) compared to what I had seen in four previous decades in that same age group.