Both sides have long since stopped having serious discussions about issues, and simply use the public platforms as an opportunity to make points with their fringe supporters.

Criticizing liberals and lambasting conservatives means nothing. Everything has been reduced to a tug of war, and both sides have the the idea that mobilizing the fringes might be all that it takes to pull thing their way.

Does anyone even know what the important issues are? And, more to the point, does anyone care?