I can't think of a good title for this thread (that concerns America and politics).

I was hoping we could have a thread that discussed america sub-politics, sub-realpolitik. i think most of us are aware that there is something or are some things fundamentally wrong, regardless of politics or political ideology (meaning problems that exist regardless of who controls the governement, problems that are part of democrats as much as republicans), in america; issue of philosophy, ontology, etc., and i wonder what you think this thing or these things are, and, most importantly, what we can do about them.

hopefully this thread will be constructive somehow.

one thing that bothers me is that the distinction between ad hominem attack and logical argument seems to have been eradicated. to posit a logical, factual and sound argument that disagrees with others is somehow attacking those others. i dont know what to do about it. one solution would be to teach rhetoric in school but i also feel that the media has to take more responsility in reporting these distinctions. i dont expect much progress to made in politics or the policy that stems from it without some fundamental change in this area.

what gets your goat?