Why is there so much hate being spewed from all directions? It's because people are in fear — in fear of losing their sense of security. It's pretty simple, and given that millions of opinions are crashing in from all directions, the average person feels like the world is closing in on him and her.

You made a very interesting point — one that I have personally witnessed over the past six decades: America grew up on television that had some strict rules and guidelines. Even when these were eroded my particular generation didn't understand that news was no longer news. I still hear the complaints today, out of an expectation that news should represent fairness, truth, and so-called American values. No more! Fox and other right wing media did much to destroy the truth. It's one thing to hold an opposing viewpoint but quite another to broadcast lies and defamation around the clock.

There are no more rules, and there is no longer a pretense of fairness or ethics. This is why a sociopath in the form of Donald Trump has been so successful — the media of old is no longer in place to call him out and condemn him for his shameful pathology.

I once heard Al Franken say that people are entitled to their own version of truth, but they are not entitled to their own set of facts.

Having been graduated from Journalism school way back in 1978 I learned from professors who were WWII correspondence and old school reporters. I'm sure these people are now spinning in their graves.