"Is America Substituting Violence for Debate?"

..a Reader wrote:
Before addressing that question, I have to first question the term "debate". In recent times, I don't believe we have had political debate; we have, for the most part, had name calling, the demonizing of political opponents and fear-mongering. That hardly qualifies as "debate" and has only hastened the rise of extremism among our citizens.

So long as politicians (and their media supporters/political pundits) continue their antics and fail to forthrightly address the domestic and foreign issues our nation faces and so long as our citizens see a continuing erosion of their personal financial position and that of the nation, the fuse of violence will continue to burn, and we will see an increasing number of domestic-generated attacks, citizen-on-citizen, citizen-on-infrastructure, and citizen-on-politicians). […]

….another Reader wrote:
In the furor of political accusations prior to the Civil War, once Congressman caned another (nearly to death) on the floor of Congress. We aren't quite there yet, but the warning shots have been fired. […]

Source: The National Interest

“The president is at least partially — again, not any way totally, but partially — to blame for demons that have been unleashed,” Sanford said, noting that although Trump was not responsible for the shooting, his coarse rhetoric and encouragement of violence have fostered aggression and a lack of civility in the heated political climate.

“If you let these forces play out, I think we end up at a very, very bad spot,” Sanford said. “What happened yesterday was symptomatic of it.”

Looks like your onto something DJ

You're absolutely correct, DJ. It is indeed a wake-up call.

I also agree with you on this: "Pandora’s box has been opened. Next time, things could be much, much worse!"

I'd say, it's practically a guarantee that things will indeed get a lot worse if WE (America) don't own up to the Truth about what has happened…and is happening..to Our country.

WE must first examine HOW we actually got to this dreadful point in the first place?

Then we must identify WHO is truly responsible for encouraging and inciting so much Hatred?…and Fear?…and Division?..and just utter chaos and madness?

Yes. Trump is certainly responsible for having stoked all of those destructive flames to intense levels, However, the truth is, Trump exploited what was already there!

I recognize that the foundation for the environment of Hate, Fear, and division that exist in America today was laid a long time ago. And so I can NOT in good conscience hold Trump responsible for the highly TOXIC rot that's been a part of America's underbelly since long BEFORE he was of any significance (at all) in American politics.

Unfortunately, America is reaping what it has sowed.

I pray for Congressman Scalise and the other victims of this act of violence. And I hear all the talk of "Unity" now in the wake of this tragedy. But folks let's NOT kid ourselves. America is in full Crisis now…and on multiple fronts.

As much as it pains me to say this…I believe there's probably going to be many more tragedies to come…some worse than this tragedy…unless as DJ said WE.WAKE.UP.