Gordon Forgey

The lines are drawn and opinions are set.

It is hard to remember when Americans were so divided and so antagonistic to opposing views.

The last time may have been more than forty years ago during the Vietnam War. The national debate over it reached much the same volume as we are hearing now.

Then, as now, opinions were entrenched and few would budge from their views.

Opinions in this presidential election, whether expressed in the media or over a cup of coffee, are rigid and unforgiving.

All the harsh noise reduces the chance for meaningful national discussions and leads only to more yelling and recriminations. Many commentators and news organizations inflame the vitriol and emotions, making matters worse.

The release of the most recent national unemployment figures are a case in point.

As soon as the figures were announced, conspiracy theories erupted. The numbers showed a minor drop in unemployment to 7.8 percent.

The report was attacked. The figures were cooked, declared a number of pundits. Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, took the lead, accusing Obama’s Chicago cronies of falsifying the numbers. His comments started off as a tweet but ended up as a national disgrace. Donald Trump chimed in suggesting a conspiracy, too.

Calling the government corrupt in the most blatant way was more preferable to these people than accepting a drop in unemployment. It is frightening that such public people would go so far and be so irresponsible.

It shows just how far the country and its political process have sunk. It gives little hope for the future.

The real danger of such unrestrained discord and hostility is that it will go well beyond the election. The hostility is so great that winners and losers may not be able to overcome their hatreds to do what is best for the country.

Remember, the divisions over Vietnam took a generation to heal, and we don’t have that much time.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher