Illuminating replies. You can always count on this group for varied, honest and interesting replies (and some fighting words, but that just makes it all the more interesting
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Even though I remember strong feelings and strong words between politicians over the years concerning all the tough, divisive issues at hand, I had to vote for "more combative and less civil today".
Consistent thread throughout a lot of replies: shallow, ratings-hungry media and pundits. I remember seeing the old Crossfire years ago on PBS before it was called PBS (I think they called it NET for Nat'l Educational Television). It was hosted by a middle-aged Bill Buckley, who, of course had some pretty strong opinions. But the debate was much deeper and well thought out than the new-age Crossfire-type shows. As Bill Bradley referred to the conversations "rat-a-tat-tat."
Seems to me something happened, maybe in the late 80s and the beginning of the 90s. The political strategists jabbed sharper, the media got less substantive, the moderates in Congress retired and talked about how the nature of the discourse changed for the worse.
Even though we had George Wallace, the '68 Democratic Convention and all the chaos, we did have Uncle Walter (good point, delfina), somewhat less posturing and more governing and fewer recommendations to "excite the base" from the consultants.
I'm afraid to create a poll for the next obvious question: Can we get it back?
