Sinners

I forgive the sinner but not the sin is an old adage and it helps to explain the loss of civil discourse in today's culture. Conservatives see liberals as people with good intentions who have gone astray and fail to understand basic economics while liberals view conservatives as heartless people who are filled with prejudices. Add to this the fact, that Trump won in a totally unexpected and surprising manner, liberals have the added burden of being on the losing side. It is easier for the winning side to reach out and ask for everyone to get along. Liberals want to share the wealth and help the downtrodden and thus are seen as good people who are tying to do the right thing. Conservatives believe that the best way to help others is to help them help themselves and thus can be seen as hard heart-ed and uncaring. Most Americans see the value in both of these approaches and can select a middle of the road path but those on the extremes see only the sin.