Amos sez:

"Bear in mind that back in Washington's administration the same divisiveness tore the administration apart, fueled by the deadlock of differing philosophies between Adams and Hamilton. Jefferson got so disgusted with the bickering he retired."

But the difference between then and now is that they didn't have several 24/7 news services egging them on and spending an inordinate amount of time covering the fringes of discourse. Anyone who is a moderate in America must feel like they are left out in the cold. I'm worried that the art of compromise is being thrown out like the baby with the bathwater.