Robert Gates is rightfully concerned about the level of divisiveness and stupidity in our political discourse:
“I do believe that we are now in uncharted waters when it comes to the dysfunction in our political system — and it is no longer a joking matter,” former Defense Secretary Robert Gates told an audience two weeks ago at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia, where he received the Liberty Medal for national service. “It appears that as a result of several long-building, polarizing trends in American politics and culture, we have lost the ability to execute even the basic functions of government much less solve the most difficult and divisive problems facing the country. Thus, I am more concerned than I have ever been about the state of American governance.”
Think about it. One of the two major parties is unapologetically attempting to sabotage the economy in order for the president, who is a member of the other major party, to fail. In and of itself, this is unprecedented in modern American history. But the fact that the sabotaging party, the Republicans, are treated as if their strategy is just another political game -- it's treated by the press as though it won't have any consequences on real people. These saboteurs are taken just as seriously as they've ever been instead of being shamed and ostracized by, well, everyone.
It's definitely not a joking matter.