“You freaking idiot!  It’s people like you who are destroying the country!”

I ignored the outburst, just like everyone else in the restaurant.

Well, not quite.

I ignored it because I had grown used to these types of things over the last couple of weeks being in town.  The rest ignored it because it might be them the next time.  They all were just like these two and any one of them could be in the next in a fight or argument, it just wasn’t their turn. 

I had heard of the village, of course, and knew it was supposed to be charming, but after two weeks there on business, I grew to understand why it wasn’t the big destination it should have been.

A big part of it was that the political divide that I believed was ripping apart the fabric of society was even worse here than any place I’d seen.  I was almost surprised that there was no real violence.  And by that, I mean gun battles.  Perhaps that was the next step.

Part of the problem wasn’t just the people arguing over it, it was he extreme to which it was taken.  For instance, the people I thought should be acting from caring compassion instead pushed their agenda out of anger, spite and a weird sense of superiority.  This got me even more than the ones who acted on hate, fear and self-interest. 

The selfishness of the people went far beyond politics and economics.  Every day actions were filled with it.  People did the bare minimum for others out of duty to their employment, but no more.  Others helped people, but out of deep felt obligation, not because of any deep warmth for fellow humans.

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