The shallow level of discourse shown by the preceding posts only goes to prove what
Al Gore is highlighting in his book, namely that reasoned discussion in the political (and other) arenas in the US has been lost to 'infotainment'. Partisanship and lack of tolerance have damaged the ability of many in the US (and elsewhere) to engage in discussions on serious issues without resorting to name-calling and smart-ass comments. Regrettably, superficial approaches to complex issues have become the order of the day, fed by an insatiable media and those that lap up the latest news of scandal and hearsay - so long as the ratings are high who cares about the 'truth'
.