Well, if we can’t reverse this trend, we can, at least, slow its momentum. To do this, there are several aspects of society that we must urgently re-examine. First, we need to seriously look at our current political system. Do we still live in what is supposed to be a representative democracy? Simply put, are the people we elect representing our interests or their own fragile egos. Secondly, we must role model for our children what being an adult looks like, sounds like and acts like. Finally, an objective look at how the media, both mainstream and social, contributes to this climate of hatred and distrust is needed. All the while, I am feeling that we, the people, are being abandoned.

Allow me to start with the relationship we have with our current crop of elected officials — both Republican and Democrat. I don’t know about you, but I get a boatload of emails, snail mail and unsolicited calls. Each candidate or incumbent reassures me that they are without sin and will save America, while emphasizing that their opponent is evil incarnate and not as patriotic as they. In addition to asking for our moral support, their buried punchline is all about asking for money to “fight the good fight.” Every time I get a call, letter or email asking for money, I think to myself, “Do they think I’m stupid?”

They, the elected officials, are the ones who are stoking the flames of division and distrust among and between Americans. Instead of fixing an anemic economy, the decaying infrastructure and/or our crumbling public education system, they spend their time denigrating each other. Over the past decades we have allowed politicians to act like entertainment personalities instead of fiduciaries of our fragile democracy. One wag in Chicago described politics as becoming “show business for ugly people.” Because we see them on TV and social media, we assume we know them. The fact is that holding political office is something that those so motivated should seek — but not for a lifetime!

Politics is supposed to be the art of compromise. How’s that working, huh?  Political service should be viewed as a responsibility and not as a career. Instead, today’s politicians strive to attain celebrity status — operating under the mistaken notion that we, the people, are titillated by their name-calling, antics, and posturing. What we need is servant leadership from our representatives. We desperately need term-limits. Bottom line is that we need more adults in Congress.

During this pandemic, adult behavior has degenerated into fist fights in public places and vicious put-downs/clapback’s on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. What we should never forget is that our children are watching. The question we strenuously avoid asking is, “What impact is all of this adult immaturity having on our children?” Today, too many adults are blatantly contradicting the advice we verbally give to our children. “Do as I say, not as I do” appears to be the implicit mantra communicated to our youth. I wonder how this adult immaturity will influence their thinking and behavior as adults. Youth today are being radicalized by on-line cults and conspiracy theorists. Yet, many parents appear clueless regarding what is going on both in their kids’ minds and lives.

Parents should be more conscientious in monitoring who and what their children bring into the home. I am still baffled at how a parent would endorse, support, or ignore a teenager buying an assault weapon — and keeping such a killing machine in their room. Put simply, are we afraid of our children? Have we gotten to the point where parents no longer play a fiduciary role in raising their children? Ethics and values used to be taught at home. Now, we’ve allowed social media quacks and ideologues to poison our children’s minds. It is time for us to act as mature adults. If we don’t aggressively reclaim our role as parents, America’s future doesn’t look very bright.

In addition to the disappearing adult parent, the media, both mainstream and social, has failed in its role as the Fourth Estate. Media, the fourth estate, has failed in its mission to act “as sort of a watchdog of the Constitution and, as such, form a vital part of democratic government.”

Today, money has corrupted our media. The mainstream media has joined the entertainment industry. Instead of facts, the talking heads have traded in their journalistic credentials to traffic in gossip and personal opinions while relegating real news to just a teaser.  As Denzel Washington observed, “If you don’t read the newspaper you’re uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you're misinformed.” Feels like, contemporary media is more interested in ratings and subscribers instead of educating and explaining to people what is really going on.

Case in point is Donald Trump’s victory in 2016. Trump received millions of dollars of ‘free’ media even from the so-called liberal media. Why? Well, any reporting of whatever outrageous statement he made was guaranteed to get eyeballs. And how did Trump repay them for such wall-to-wall coverage? He derisively labeled them “fake news” when they attempted a critical review of his public statements. Brilliant move on his part. He played the mainstream media like a skilled violinist. He kept his name out there. Pretty soon, people assumed he must be a legitimate candidate to receive such blanket coverage. Today buzzwords, superficial dialogue and name calling dominate the so-called news shows, the headlines and breaking news crawls on the bottom of our TV screens. For me, it is becoming increasingly difficult to even watch CNN, Fox, and other media behemoths.

These warring media camps are consumed with fighting each other, bragging about their ratings but not caring about really informing the public. I feel that we, the people, have been abandoned. How about you?