It is the left's fault. The division in race, in political parties, the rise in riots, the open hatred and general animosity. Even the rise in violent crime, INCLUDING mass shootings.
Why?
Because in the last twenty years or so, the left in general, and the 'woke' part of the left specifically, have made intolerance and violence socially acceptable. And the Democrat party, specifically the leadership, has embraced doing so, encouraged it, and even called it heroic.
The stage was set in the 60's with the left wingers pushed God out of education. When the left said there is no God and no need to believe in God, because it is all fairy tales. When a troubled or unhappy individual sees no greater good, and no reward or punishment in an afterlife, and trusted people says it is stupid and ignorant to believe in an afterlife, that opens many options that a believer would never consider. When life appears worse than the peace of death, why not? Suicide becomes an acceptable alternative, as does murder. After all, once a person accepts that they want to die, it is only a tiny bit farther to decide to take others along.
But that is a different discussion. It relates here only because rejecting God was the start.

Up until Reagan was elected, the Democrats stayed within reason with their accusations of what the Republicans political goals were. But so many Democrats voted for Reagan, the leaders realized they were losing....they felt they had to change tactics. So beginning after Reagan left office, their political rhetoric became more and more extreme and filled with lies and exaggerations. Everything they said and did was geared to appeal to the low information and politically ignorant citizens that votes based on optics and sound bites. In 2000, with the help of an unqualified BUT charming and charismatic Barrack Obama, the new tactics started paying off.

As a result, for the last 22 years the left/woke/Democrats have encouraged and pushed intolerance for anything that did not agree with their narratives. Voicing opposition was not enough. Logic and reasoning was not enough. ANGER and OUTRAGE at ANY dissent was the order of the day. Don't like Trumps policies? Then harass and attack his officials and supporters! Attack kids with red hats. Interrupt meals. Say any lies you want. The end justifies the means. Don't like conservatives? Then violently protest them when they come on campus. It is not enough to decline to attend their speeches, we must STOP them from saying ANYthing to ANYbody! Don't like racism? Then let's redefine it so that ONLY Caucasians are racists, and it is not enough to be color blind....if POC are not given special privileges, and any white folks are not violently anti-racist, then they too are racists! If ANYthing is said, seen, or remembered that you don't like, then it is absolutely OFFENSIVE and WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Some 60 year old wore black face in a costume 45 years ago? Cancel the racist! Some teen girl wears an oriental dress to prom? Cancel the tramp for cultural appropriation.
The examples are endless. And the media, for the most part, went along with it enthusiastically. Here was a chance to 'guide' the public into politically correct thinking.
This is the age, the century (so far), in which violent intolerance and extremism is encouraged and dignified and celebrated by some of the most powerful and influential politicians and celebrities and media in America.
Why is crime increasing? Much of it is because of soft on criminal Democrat policies, but it is also because the left has been telling the poor that they DESERVE to take what they want. Doing so is righteous and justice.
Why are riots, including race riots increasing? Because the left has been saying that ANY time a black person is hurt, then it is racially motivated, and outrage and violence are acceptable.
Why are mass murders increasing? Because the left has made it clear that actions as a result of outrage and anger is acceptable social behavior, even if it is an individual.
Why are our university campuses in disarray? Because the left has convinced them that screaming temper tantrums and violent protests are fine if you don't like what they are saying, or even if you just don't like them personally.

This post has no links because these are my thoughts and convictions based on 50 years of paying attention. American politics is similar to California forests. The unacceptable 'dead wood' has now been made acceptable by 22 years of leftist and Democrat words and policies, and is just laying there waiting for the spark-of-the-day to start a wildfire. The only way to correct it is to start clearing away the dead wood. That will take time and effort. We need to clear the forest of our culture of all the 'dead wood' attitude that is waiting for the strike of a match.
And, by the way, disagreeing with someone is NOT hatred. But intolerance of free speech IS.
The way to begin is to STOP condemning any one or any thing that we disagree with. Listen. Agree or disagree. But do it with out hatred or violence. Those things must be made socially and culturally unacceptable once again.
I look forward to comments by everyone.

It is the left's fault. The division in race, in political parties, the rise in riots, the open hatred and general animosity. Even the rise in violent crime, INCLUDING mass shootings.
Why?
Because in the last twenty years or so, the left in general, and the 'woke' part of the left specifically, have made intolerance and violence socially acceptable. And the Democrat party, specifically the leadership, has embraced doing so, encouraged it, and even called it heroic.
The stage was set in the 60's with the left wingers pushed God out of education. When the left said there is no God and no need to believe in God, because it is all fairy tales. When a troubled or unhappy individual sees no greater good, and no reward or punishment in an afterlife, and trusted people says it is stupid and ignorant to believe in an afterlife, that opens many options that a believer would never consider. When life appears worse than the peace of death, why not? Suicide becomes an acceptable alternative, as does murder. After all, once a person accepts that they want to die, it is only a tiny bit farther to decide to take others along.
But that is a different discussion. It relates here only because rejecting God was the start.

Up until Reagan was elected, the Democrats stayed within reason with their accusations of what the Republicans political goals were. But so many Democrats voted for Reagan, the leaders realized they were losing....they felt they had to change tactics. So beginning after Reagan left office, their political rhetoric became more and more extreme and filled with lies and exaggerations. Everything they said and did was geared to appeal to the low information and politically ignorant citizens that votes based on optics and sound bites. In 2000, with the help of an unqualified BUT charming and charismatic Barrack Obama, the new tactics started paying off.

As a result, for the last 22 years the left/woke/Democrats have encouraged and pushed intolerance for anything that did not agree with their narratives. Voicing opposition was not enough. Logic and reasoning was not enough. ANGER and OUTRAGE at ANY dissent was the order of the day. Don't like Trumps policies? Then harass and attack his officials and supporters! Attack kids with red hats. Interrupt meals. Say any lies you want. The end justifies the means. Don't like conservatives? Then violently protest them when they come on campus. It is not enough to decline to attend their speeches, we must STOP them from saying ANYthing to ANYbody! Don't like racism? Then let's redefine it so that ONLY Caucasians are racists, and it is not enough to be color blind....if POC are not given special privileges, and any white folks are not violently anti-racist, then they too are racists! If ANYthing is said, seen, or remembered that you don't like, then it is absolutely OFFENSIVE and WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Some 60 year old wore black face in a costume 45 years ago? Cancel the racist! Some teen girl wears an oriental dress to prom? Cancel the tramp for cultural appropriation.
The examples are endless. And the media, for the most part, went along with it enthusiastically. Here was a chance to 'guide' the public into politically correct thinking.
This is the age, the century (so far), in which violent intolerance and extremism is encouraged and dignified and celebrated by some of the most powerful and influential politicians and celebrities and media in America.
Why is crime increasing? Much of it is because of soft on criminal Democrat policies, but it is also because the left has been telling the poor that they DESERVE to take what they want. Doing so is righteous and justice.
Why are riots, including race riots increasing? Because the left has been saying that ANY time a black person is hurt, then it is racially motivated, and outrage and violence are acceptable.
Why are mass murders increasing? Because the left has made it clear that actions as a result of outrage and anger is acceptable social behavior, even if it is an individual.
Why are our university campuses in disarray? Because the left has convinced them that screaming temper tantrums and violent protests are fine if you don't like what they are saying, or even if you just don't like them personally.

This post has no links because these are my thoughts and convictions based on 50 years of paying attention. American politics is similar to California forests. The unacceptable 'dead wood' has now been made acceptable by 22 years of leftist and Democrat words and policies, and is just laying there waiting for the spark-of-the-day to start a wildfire. The only way to correct it is to start clearing away the dead wood. That will take time and effort. We need to clear the forest of our culture of all the 'dead wood' attitude that is waiting for the strike of a match.
And, by the way, disagreeing with someone is NOT hatred. But intolerance of free speech IS.
The way to begin is to STOP condemning any one or any thing that we disagree with. Listen. Agree or disagree. But do it with out hatred or violence. Those things must be made socially and culturally unacceptable once again.
I look forward to comments by everyone.

It is the left's fault. The division in race, in political parties, the rise in riots, the open hatred and general animosity. Even the rise in violent crime, INCLUDING mass shootings.
Why?
Because in the last twenty years or so, the left in general, and the 'woke' part of the left specifically, have made intolerance and violence socially acceptable. And the Democrat party, specifically the leadership, has embraced doing so, encouraged it, and even called it heroic.
The stage was set in the 60's with the left wingers pushed God out of education. When the left said there is no God and no need to believe in God, because it is all fairy tales. When a troubled or unhappy individual sees no greater good, and no reward or punishment in an afterlife, and trusted people says it is stupid and ignorant to believe in an afterlife, that opens many options that a believer would never consider. When life appears worse than the peace of death, why not? Suicide becomes an acceptable alternative, as does murder. After all, once a person accepts that they want to die, it is only a tiny bit farther to decide to take others along.
But that is a different discussion. It relates here only because rejecting God was the start.

Up until Reagan was elected, the Democrats stayed within reason with their accusations of what the Republicans political goals were. But so many Democrats voted for Reagan, the leaders realized they were losing....they felt they had to change tactics. So beginning after Reagan left office, their political rhetoric became more and more extreme and filled with lies and exaggerations. Everything they said and did was geared to appeal to the low information and politically ignorant citizens that votes based on optics and sound bites. In 2000, with the help of an unqualified BUT charming and charismatic Barrack Obama, the new tactics started paying off.

As a result, for the last 22 years the left/woke/Democrats have encouraged and pushed intolerance for anything that did not agree with their narratives. Voicing opposition was not enough. Logic and reasoning was not enough. ANGER and OUTRAGE at ANY dissent was the order of the day. Don't like Trumps policies? Then harass and attack his officials and supporters! Attack kids with red hats. Interrupt meals. Say any lies you want. The end justifies the means. Don't like conservatives? Then violently protest them when they come on campus. It is not enough to decline to attend their speeches, we must STOP them from saying ANYthing to ANYbody! Don't like racism? Then let's redefine it so that ONLY Caucasians are racists, and it is not enough to be color blind....if POC are not given special privileges, and any white folks are not violently anti-racist, then they too are racists! If ANYthing is said, seen, or remembered that you don't like, then it is absolutely OFFENSIVE and WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Some 60 year old wore black face in a costume 45 years ago? Cancel the racist! Some teen girl wears an oriental dress to prom? Cancel the tramp for cultural appropriation.
The examples are endless. And the media, for the most part, went along with it enthusiastically. Here was a chance to 'guide' the public into politically correct thinking.
This is the age, the century (so far), in which violent intolerance and extremism is encouraged and dignified and celebrated by some of the most powerful and influential politicians and celebrities and media in America.
Why is crime increasing? Much of it is because of soft on criminal Democrat policies, but it is also because the left has been telling the poor that they DESERVE to take what they want. Doing so is righteous and justice.
Why are riots, including race riots increasing? Because the left has been saying that ANY time a black person is hurt, then it is racially motivated, and outrage and violence are acceptable.
Why are mass murders increasing? Because the left has made it clear that actions as a result of outrage and anger is acceptable social behavior, even if it is an individual.
Why are our university campuses in disarray? Because the left has convinced them that screaming temper tantrums and violent protests are fine if you don't like what they are saying, or even if you just don't like them personally.

This post has no links because these are my thoughts and convictions based on 50 years of paying attention. American politics is similar to California forests. The unacceptable 'dead wood' has now been made acceptable by 22 years of leftist and Democrat words and policies, and is just laying there waiting for the spark-of-the-day to start a wildfire. The only way to correct it is to start clearing away the dead wood. That will take time and effort. We need to clear the forest of our culture of all the 'dead wood' attitude that is waiting for the strike of a match.
And, by the way, disagreeing with someone is NOT hatred. But intolerance of free speech IS.
The way to begin is to STOP condemning any one or any thing that we disagree with. Listen. Agree or disagree. But do it with out hatred or violence. Those things must be made socially and culturally unacceptable once again.
I look forward to comments by everyone.

It is the left's fault. The division in race, in political parties, the rise in riots, the open hatred and general animosity. Even the rise in violent crime, INCLUDING mass shootings.
Why?
Because in the last twenty years or so, the left in general, and the 'woke' part of the left specifically, have made intolerance and violence socially acceptable. And the Democrat party, specifically the leadership, has embraced doing so, encouraged it, and even called it heroic.
The stage was set in the 60's with the left wingers pushed God out of education. When the left said there is no God and no need to believe in God, because it is all fairy tales. When a troubled or unhappy individual sees no greater good, and no reward or punishment in an afterlife, and trusted people says it is stupid and ignorant to believe in an afterlife, that opens many options that a believer would never consider. When life appears worse than the peace of death, why not? Suicide becomes an acceptable alternative, as does murder. After all, once a person accepts that they want to die, it is only a tiny bit farther to decide to take others along.
But that is a different discussion. It relates here only because rejecting God was the start.

Up until Reagan was elected, the Democrats stayed within reason with their accusations of what the Republicans political goals were. But so many Democrats voted for Reagan, the leaders realized they were losing....they felt they had to change tactics. So beginning after Reagan left office, their political rhetoric became more and more extreme and filled with lies and exaggerations. Everything they said and did was geared to appeal to the low information and politically ignorant citizens that votes based on optics and sound bites. In 2000, with the help of an unqualified BUT charming and charismatic Barrack Obama, the new tactics started paying off.

As a result, for the last 22 years the left/woke/Democrats have encouraged and pushed intolerance for anything that did not agree with their narratives. Voicing opposition was not enough. Logic and reasoning was not enough. ANGER and OUTRAGE at ANY dissent was the order of the day. Don't like Trumps policies? Then harass and attack his officials and supporters! Attack kids with red hats. Interrupt meals. Say any lies you want. The end justifies the means. Don't like conservatives? Then violently protest them when they come on campus. It is not enough to decline to attend their speeches, we must STOP them from saying ANYthing to ANYbody! Don't like racism? Then let's redefine it so that ONLY Caucasians are racists, and it is not enough to be color blind....if POC are not given special privileges, and any white folks are not violently anti-racist, then they too are racists! If ANYthing is said, seen, or remembered that you don't like, then it is absolutely OFFENSIVE and WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Some 60 year old wore black face in a costume 45 years ago? Cancel the racist! Some teen girl wears an oriental dress to prom? Cancel the tramp for cultural appropriation.
The examples are endless. And the media, for the most part, went along with it enthusiastically. Here was a chance to 'guide' the public into politically correct thinking.
This is the age, the century (so far), in which violent intolerance and extremism is encouraged and dignified and celebrated by some of the most powerful and influential politicians and celebrities and media in America.
Why is crime increasing? Much of it is because of soft on criminal Democrat policies, but it is also because the left has been telling the poor that they DESERVE to take what they want. Doing so is righteous and justice.
Why are riots, including race riots increasing? Because the left has been saying that ANY time a black person is hurt, then it is racially motivated, and outrage and violence are acceptable.
Why are mass murders increasing? Because the left has made it clear that actions as a result of outrage and anger is acceptable social behavior, even if it is an individual.
Why are our university campuses in disarray? Because the left has convinced them that screaming temper tantrums and violent protests are fine if you don't like what they are saying, or even if you just don't like them personally.

This post has no links because these are my thoughts and convictions based on 50 years of paying attention. American politics is similar to California forests. The unacceptable 'dead wood' has now been made acceptable by 22 years of leftist and Democrat words and policies, and is just laying there waiting for the spark-of-the-day to start a wildfire. The only way to correct it is to start clearing away the dead wood. That will take time and effort. We need to clear the forest of our culture of all the 'dead wood' attitude that is waiting for the strike of a match.
And, by the way, disagreeing with someone is NOT hatred. But intolerance of free speech IS.
The way to begin is to STOP condemning any one or any thing that we disagree with. Listen. Agree or disagree. But do it with out hatred or violence. Those things must be made socially and culturally unacceptable once again.
I look forward to comments by everyone.

I totally agree with your first paragraph. It IS the Left's fault. The fault of the Democrats. I do not think that you have gone far enough back into history to find where all of the problems regarding socialism started to take root. Try 60 years ago with LBJ's "Great Society". The expanding of our government to provide welfare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, may have had good intentions, but as other aspects of the welfare system caused a wider wealth gap between the blacks and whites living north of the Mason-Dixon Line in the 1960's. We had the Watts riot, and riots all over the US that weren't part of the Vietnam War protests-they were riots caused by social unrest. There were left-wing instigators and infiltrators into the social unrest during that time. Bill Ayers, Cloward and Pivin and others who wanted to see the capitalist system go down or be taken over by a massive welfare overload. Violence and force are the calling cards of the Democrat Party.

https://www.manhattan-institute.org/the-forgotten-failures-of-the-great-society

I totally agree with your first paragraph. It IS the Left's fault. The fault of the Democrats. I do not think that you have gone far enough back into history to find where all of the problems regarding socialism started to take root. Try 60 years ago with LBJ's "Great Society". The expanding of our government to provide welfare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, may have had good intentions, but as other aspects of the welfare system caused a wider wealth gap between the blacks and whites living north of the Mason-Dixon Line in the 1960's. We had the Watts riot, and riots all over the US that weren't part of the Vietnam War protests-they were riots caused by social unrest. There were left-wing instigators and infiltrators into the social unrest during that time. Bill Ayers, Cloward and Pivin and others who wanted to see the capitalist system go down or be taken over by a massive welfare overload. Violence and force are the calling cards of the Democrat Party.

https://www.manhattan-institute.org/the-forgotten-failures-of-the-great-society

It is the left's fault. The division in race, in political parties, the rise in riots, the open hatred and general animosity. Even the rise in violent crime, INCLUDING mass shootings.
Why?
Because in the last twenty years or so, the left in general, and the 'woke' part of the left specifically, have made intolerance and violence socially acceptable. And the Democrat party, specifically the leadership, has embraced doing so, encouraged it, and even called it heroic.
The stage was set in the 60's with the left wingers pushed God out of education. When the left said there is no God and no need to believe in God, because it is all fairy tales. When a troubled or unhappy individual sees no greater good, and no reward or punishment in an afterlife, and trusted people says it is stupid and ignorant to believe in an afterlife, that opens many options that a believer would never consider. When life appears worse than the peace of death, why not? Suicide becomes an acceptable alternative, as does murder. After all, once a person accepts that they want to die, it is only a tiny bit farther to decide to take others along.
But that is a different discussion. It relates here only because rejecting God was the start.

Up until Reagan was elected, the Democrats stayed within reason with their accusations of what the Republicans political goals were. But so many Democrats voted for Reagan, the leaders realized they were losing....they felt they had to change tactics. So beginning after Reagan left office, their political rhetoric became more and more extreme and filled with lies and exaggerations. Everything they said and did was geared to appeal to the low information and politically ignorant citizens that votes based on optics and sound bites. In 2000, with the help of an unqualified BUT charming and charismatic Barrack Obama, the new tactics started paying off.

As a result, for the last 22 years the left/woke/Democrats have encouraged and pushed intolerance for anything that did not agree with their narratives. Voicing opposition was not enough. Logic and reasoning was not enough. ANGER and OUTRAGE at ANY dissent was the order of the day. Don't like Trumps policies? Then harass and attack his officials and supporters! Attack kids with red hats. Interrupt meals. Say any lies you want. The end justifies the means. Don't like conservatives? Then violently protest them when they come on campus. It is not enough to decline to attend their speeches, we must STOP them from saying ANYthing to ANYbody! Don't like racism? Then let's redefine it so that ONLY Caucasians are racists, and it is not enough to be color blind....if POC are not given special privileges, and any white folks are not violently anti-racist, then they too are racists! If ANYthing is said, seen, or remembered that you don't like, then it is absolutely OFFENSIVE and WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Some 60 year old wore black face in a costume 45 years ago? Cancel the racist! Some teen girl wears an oriental dress to prom? Cancel the tramp for cultural appropriation.
The examples are endless. And the media, for the most part, went along with it enthusiastically. Here was a chance to 'guide' the public into politically correct thinking.
This is the age, the century (so far), in which violent intolerance and extremism is encouraged and dignified and celebrated by some of the most powerful and influential politicians and celebrities and media in America.
Why is crime increasing? Much of it is because of soft on criminal Democrat policies, but it is also because the left has been telling the poor that they DESERVE to take what they want. Doing so is righteous and justice.
Why are riots, including race riots increasing? Because the left has been saying that ANY time a black person is hurt, then it is racially motivated, and outrage and violence are acceptable.
Why are mass murders increasing? Because the left has made it clear that actions as a result of outrage and anger is acceptable social behavior, even if it is an individual.
Why are our university campuses in disarray? Because the left has convinced them that screaming temper tantrums and violent protests are fine if you don't like what they are saying, or even if you just don't like them personally.

This post has no links because these are my thoughts and convictions based on 50 years of paying attention. American politics is similar to California forests. The unacceptable 'dead wood' has now been made acceptable by 22 years of leftist and Democrat words and policies, and is just laying there waiting for the spark-of-the-day to start a wildfire. The only way to correct it is to start clearing away the dead wood. That will take time and effort. We need to clear the forest of our culture of all the 'dead wood' attitude that is waiting for the strike of a match.
And, by the way, disagreeing with someone is NOT hatred. But intolerance of free speech IS.
The way to begin is to STOP condemning any one or any thing that we disagree with. Listen. Agree or disagree. But do it with out hatred or violence. Those things must be made socially and culturally unacceptable once again.
I look forward to comments by everyone.