Corrupted National Discourse

Rarely have the consequences of a particular American election been as high as they are now and never has campaigning been marked by such a dearth of civility in modern times. Other commentators have spoken of a coarsening of culture and I have mentioned incidents of this on the Despot forum, but what Campaign 2010 demonstrates is descent to new depths. All too often in this consequential campaign cycle the debate has resembled two playground jousters, children trading barbs in the schoolyard with "your mama" being replaced by "man up". Personal attack replaces thought about the nation's future in almost every race and this should cause great foreboding in the citizenry with stakes so high. This harangue reflects desperation rather than constructive debate or enlightened dialogue but maybe that is too much to expect from advertising agencies, campaign consultants, and the alley cats vying for office they represent.