By Michael Dorstewitz
Monday, 06 October 2025 10:17 AM EDT
The current political climate in the United States is marked by escalating hostility and a lack of meaningful dialogue. Instead of constructive debate, rhetoric has devolved into name-calling, a trend that has contributed to dangerous outcomes. This shift began with President Obama’s dismissive remarks about “flyover country” conservatives, later amplified by Hillary Clinton’s infamous “basket of deplorables” comment in 2016. Since then, the polarization has worsened, with opponents of conservative figures increasingly labeled as fascists or compared to historical tyrants like Hitler and Stalin.
The consequences of this rhetoric are evident. Following the attempted assassination of former President Trump, incendiary language linking him to fascism surged by over 2,500%, according to a Texas Public Policy Foundation report. This dehumanizing discourse has not only fueled violence but also justified extreme measures against political adversaries. Recent events underscore this danger: a Democrat-appointed parole board released a convicted murderer, a Democrat-appointed judge imposed a lenient sentence on an individual who attempted to assassinate Justice Kavanaugh, and a Democratic attorney general candidate openly expressed violent fantasies against opponents.
The targeting of conservative voices extends beyond political figures. A young Jewish couple was murdered near the Washington, D.C. Holocaust Museum, while a Harvard Law professor attacked a synagogue with a pellet gun, claiming he was “hunting rats.” Federal law enforcement officers, particularly those from Homeland Security and ICE, have also become targets.
The article reflects on a bygone era of unity and compassion, contrasting it with today’s divisive atmosphere. It calls for an end to hatred and a return to seeing others as fellow citizens striving for a better life.
Michael Dorstewitz is a retired lawyer and frequent contributor to Newsmax. He is also a former U.S. Merchant Marine officer and Second Amendment supporter.
