In the days before technology, people gathered in taverns, or around their tables, and discussed the issues of the day. There were debates, arguments, discourse. Some of it calm. Some of it not.

Nowadays, that table, that tavern, is social media. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. Folks from different backgrounds and ideologies can gather around a virtual table and debate.  Except they don’t.

In the horribly divided society in which we live, it’s their side or our side. You’re wrong. I’m right. If I believe this, you think I’m a bad person. If you believe that, I might think you’re stupid.

There’s very little discourse and even less censure.  Censure is the fuel on which the American machine has run.  It’s the ability to disagree with our governement and with each other without fear of consequence.  It was described best by the character Andrew Shepherd in the 1995 movie “An American President”:

“Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who’s standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.”

In social media, you’re teased if you express a view that may be considered political (whether it’s controversial or not). And God forbid if people disagree with you. In social media, people rarely debate. It’s easier not to. If you post something that your neighbor, cousin’s boyfriend or your old 2nd grade teacher doesn’t like, you could be “unfollowed” or at worst “unfriended.”  I’m not blameless.  Post after post with pronouncements that made my blood boil.  Did I acknowledge them?  Nope.  I unfollowed them.

Shame on me.

No one allows themselves to be swayed.  After the first Presidential debate, folks posted to social media with comments about how crappy the candidate they don’t support anyway performed.  Not great fodder for discussion.

I enjoy respectful debate.  Let’s discuss issues, policies, possible solutions.  Yet, in this go-round, there really isn’t much opportunity to do that.  We’re talking about emails, corruption, deceit, walls, inappropriate comments, and sniffing.

Yes. Sniffing.

Each side is frightened of the other side’s candidate.  Almost everyone agrees that with all of our choices, what we’re left with is choosing what each of us believes is the lesser of two evils.  There are a few who are truly supportive of their candidate and are ready to expound on why he/she would make a great president.  But nobody wants to listen.

There is a growing voice about a third choice…Independent, Libertarian…maybe in four years we’ll be able to stretch our collective consciousness to entertain that possibility.  Not sure there is room for it this time.  Podium seems a little over-crowded as it is.  And let’s face it – that would just be more voices that noone will acknowledge or debate.

What the hell would George Washington do?

I think he’d just log off.