By Patrick Robinson

I believe we are witnessing a coarsening of our society, something that has grown substantially over the last decade. The prevalence of the loss of manners, increasing road rage, and the erosion of the simple following of rules is increasing.

We've always had angry people, rude people, people who were over aggressive, power hungry, verbally abusive, and those for whom manners were only a suggestion.

But in recent times we've seen the rise of faith in authoritarian politics.

Everyone. I mean EVERYONE is driven by both fear and love. Both are uncertain and human beings crave certainty. "Do you really love me?" runs through many minds. Just as "Those Dumbocrats are trying to take away our freedoms!" or "Those Rethuglicans have no solutions!".. But the institutionalization of ugliness, most recently from the very top of our government, gives permission to many others to behave the same way.

It causes people to question motives, question outcomes, question each other. In other words it causes tremendous uncertainty.. and thus many weak minded people seek someone who is "strong" and a "fighter" who apparently has the "answers" and says they for "the little guy".. and who "give voice to the voiceless".. we want certainty. Too bad that's all some tragic bullshit. There IS no certainty. Welcome to life.

So. the best we can do is act out of kindness, charity, and suspend judgement. That's VERY hard to do sometimes. I fail more than I'd like.

So the goal is to spread the love. In every action, every word, every thought and be grateful for the blessings in your life.

It has the effect of being positively contagious.