I think there is a middle ground where folks could meet. It definitely feels like there are forces polarizing us today whether by design or by happenstance the polarization is real.

If you are one who believes that there are no conspiracies and all actions are altruistic then you are probably naive, if you believe every action is driven by conspiracy maybe a bit paranoid.

As usual, the truth is somewhere in the middle. We are looking for black and white solutions in a very grey world.

I think a big reason for polarization is that it has been monetized. I've read that studies show that the more riled up an article/post/news story makes you, the more likely you are to click on it, read it or watch it.

I have read that on the internet, the sites and platforms know this, and their algorithms automatically feed you more stuff that riles you up so that you watch/read more riling up stuff. On TV, talking heads that rile us up generate more eyeballs on screen which generates more revenue for the broadcaster.

And people are predisposed to believe, quite sincerely, what they want to believe, and much of, probably most of, what we believe is based on what we are told, what our environment is, i.e., what our conditioning is.

This is just the way the human mind works.

Like everyone else, I don't know what the fix is. But one thing that would surely help is more civility. While on this forum we have divergent views, we are, by and large — and with some help from the big griller and his deputies — civil to one another.

I think the civility of this forum has much to do with its popularity.

Yet, even here, where we are civil to one another or we are not permitted to participate, politics is simply out of bounds. Too polarizing, two volatile, to even attempt to discuss civilly.

A sad state of affairs for our country and for all of us, to be sure...

Bingo!

Television "news" shows -- especially on cable -- are more interested in inflaming than informing their viewers. There is very little straightforward just-the-facts news reporting these days.

And our leaders, on both sides of the aisle, are all about the acquisition of power and appeasing their respective special interests, rather than doing what's right for the country.

Couple those two factors with the social media influence campaigns being waged by hostile foreign actors, aimed at disrupting our society, and you have a recipe for discord and disunity...something no nation can long survive.

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Where Law Ends, Tyranny Begins

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Civility is a key element that has been jettisoned for a scorched earth win at all costs mentality.

We need to nurture the marketplace of ideas and find the best solutions through healthy civil debate.

Unfortunately, power is intoxicating and addicting. Those who have it will not let it slip from their grasp easily.

The average taxpaying voter seem to be nothing more than pawns at this point.

No doubt that most are out of touch.

60 million Bison in the US in 1800, compared to about half that many cattle now. Where was the methane problem then.

The folks that started the cow fart scare should be put in mental hospitals.

I was referring to 19:24 KJV:
"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

I feel this refers to more than the love of money. Sometimes we all are consumed with our wants and desires so much, we take little to no time
for searching out the spirit of life around us, or the works of nature. Best stop there.

It is good for us to enjoy from the fruit of our labors, so enjoy. The picture had this written on it with His face, "Don't forget me."

Wonder what we would do if we had so much money?