The lack of civility threatens our future

It's easy to view today's political and social landscape with a healthy amount of dismay and sadness.

If you're prone to worrying, then this is your time to shine. From ISIS to illegal immigration and all points in between, there is ample cause for concern.

Yet the one lingering issue that threatens our future is the growing lack of civility.

Increasingly, far too many people take their disagreements to a new and dangerous level of incivility.

We no longer simply disagree. Now some take that disagreement to an ugly point where all pretense of civility is abandoned and outright hate takes its place.

Social scientists talk of the polarization that grips this nation. But polarization has always been part of the fabric of politics.

Now, however, polarization gives way to angry disagreements that all too often escalate into violence or the threat of violence.

Granted, we're in a hyper state of stress and anxiety given the significance of the upcoming election. But the truth is - if you follow politics enough - we have had other presidential elections that offered stark differences of opinion.

Yet today there are countless examples of nasty rhetoric and escalating violence that, in the long run, may do more damage than the outcome of any election.

A Trump supporter this week was severely beaten for simply wearing a T-shirt in support of Trump. And yet, this is far from the first time such violence has taken place.

A friend recently directed me to some You Tube videos that are chocked full of violence in surroundings that should be safe. The problem is that there are literally thousands of these videos highlighting the lack of restraint and the explosion of less-than-civil actions.

Like everyone else, I worry about the outcome of the upcoming election. And yes, like you probably, I have my favorite.

But this growing incivility will not evaporate once the votes are counted. Hurt feelings won't mend overnight. And those who have resorted to violence - WITH NO REPERCUSSIONS - will continue on that downward path until they have to pay a price.

If less-than-civil actions are not addressed with appropriate punishment, what incentive is there to act any differently?