Part of the problem is that the country has seldom been so divided. You have 30% or so of the people crying socialism, about 50% lukewarmly supporting the healthcare "reform", and about 20% like me calling it a giveaway to the insurance companies and fascistic. What I see as fascism, JackDallas, TB, and Jiminy see as socialism. So even when we might both dislike a program, we characterize it differently.

People are no doubt shooting first and asking questions later, and tempers are flaring mainly because little is getting done and the need is so great. The people are suffering while the pols dither or take their marching orders from the banks and insurance companies (if you believe me) or the Kremlin (if you believe Jiminy).