Well, as someone sitting somewhere between Liberal and Socialist, I'd have to agree with you about the polarization.

I long for the days when people on both sides of the aisle made an effort to know what's going on and could actually discuss things like civilized adults with a difference of opinion.

My born-again-Christian cousin cussed me out and told me that I wish Saddam was still in power when I said I thought that getting incensed about the upside-down flag at the immigration protest in California was counterproductive. (I think that means I won the argument.)