Politics in America has always been dirty business. More recently a serious division has grown between those vying for public office. This gap, which is best characterized by the perspectives of liberals and conservatives, has made it almost impossible for our federal government to operate efficiently.

The bad blood has spread to average Americans. It is impossible to have a substantive conversation about race, the economy, immigration, foreign policy, abortion, gun control, government transparency, religion, military strength and so many other topics without an ensuing screaming match.

The past few presidential elections have exacerbated this problem. Some were very close and the losers were infuriated by the outcomes. The presidents struggled to govern when the split between the majority and minority was just a few seats in Congress.

The opposition, too often, has been unable to accept the results of elections and support the new president. This attitude was stoked by campaigns that went far beyond policy differences. The contenders attacked each other personally. Now digging up dirt on one’s opponent is an important element of every election. The issues uncovered continue to plague the victor after the election.

The press and TV media are complicit in this unseemly process that breeds negativity and resentment. For the most part, these groups are hungry to find dirty laundry and tell the world without regard to political affiliation. This is what sells newspapers and makes viewers tune in each night. However journalists have begun to take sides in recent times, and they are mostly supporters of liberal candidates and causes. Newspapers have become biased as editors allow reporters’ personal opinions to infiltrate reporting.

Vicious attacks by the opposition are not new, although Donald Trump has been lambasted more than any other president in history. Real hatred in politics became a major issue during the Clinton administration. Conservatives were taken aback by Bill’s salacious life style before, during and after his presidency. Opponents of Clinton could not get over the fact that a blatant philanderer, a man, who lied under oath, was in the White House.

This animosity was transferred to his wife whose attitude and sense of entitlement made conservatives go bonkers. If you are not a Hillary fan, you despise her. There is no middle ground.

George W. Bush was subjected to the wrath of liberals who claimed that he stole the election from Al Gore. The latter won the popular vote, but Bush won the more important electoral vote. Bush was derided from day one even as he capably dealt with 9/11. Unfortunately his opponents disapproved of the way he responded to terrorism culminating with invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nevertheless Bush was treated unfairly and in a cruel personal way. His competency and down home style was mocked. Dan Rather of CBs, in his zeal to destroy the Bush presidency, reported erroneously about Bush’s military service and was sanctioned by his employer.

Barack Obama is an uber populist. He attacked the most successful among us in his quest to become president. Class warfare was his main weapon, and it backfired on him.

From the start Obama wanted to make a huge splash legislatively. He ramrodded Obamacare through Congress creating enormous resentment among the opposition and many Americans. This trillion dollar plus entitlement was not supported by one Republican in Congress.

Ted Kennedy’s death caused the Democrats to lose their filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Republican Scott Brown campaigned against Obamacare and won the seat. Obama over estimated his influence. Thereafter the president was a lame duck only able to govern with presidential mandates.

The venom directed at Obama was a function of his own desire to bring down affluent Americans and his total disregard for the opposition. He got what he deserved, a backlash that made his presidency moot. Yet, the bad feelings among conservatives were disappointing in retrospect.

This set the stage for the unmitigated opposition to Donald Trump even before he took office. Liberals were attributing problems in the country to the new president-elect before he stepped into the White House. Every scowl and misstep by Trump was met with snide comments. After one year he is to blame for all problems in the country. The hatred, some of which is deserved, is tearing the country apart. Politics has become a gottcha contest where both parties are trying to prove that the other party sucks.

Americans should be concerned about the future of their government. The situation did not begin with Trump, but hopefully it will end with him.

Can you imagine the responses I’m going to get from this query?

The US is on a roller coaster ride with Donald Trump at the helm. Not a day goes by without drama emanating from the White House. The man has become a tweeting maniac.

Trump’s apologists led by Fox News continue to make excuses for their guy’s aberrant behavior. They say that his agenda is good for America, and the president’s self-aggrandizing, narcissistic, offensive and immature actions and perspectives are things we should let slide.

How did we ever elect a man so un-statesman like. What convinced voters to ignore Trump’s outlandish performance during the campaign and elect him to the most powerful office in the world? What the hell has Trump ever done to deserve four years in the White House? When you think of the scores of qualified politicians who were spurned by voters over the years, you have to wonder whether the neophyte Trump cast a spell on the electorate. Or maybe Hillary just sucked as a candidate, and America needed to make a change after the torturous Obama years.

On SNL, for the umpteenth time Alec Baldwin mocked Trump mercilessly. The venom and disdain Baldwin projects towards the president is remarkable. Perhaps this tired and trite gig is all the work Baldwin can find these days.

The press and the media led by journalists like Charles Blow (NY Times) and Joe Scarborough (Morning Joe) are outrageously disrespectful of the man and the office he occupies. Almost daily they call the president a bold-faced liar, a misogynist, an idiot and a fool. They say he’s going start World War III, and he’s going to take food out of the mouths of children to enrich the rich. They hate him so much that they twist the truth. They are famously part of “fake news” brigade.

Trump is even responsible for the rash of sexual abuses accusations, and the ousting of many powerful men who were incapable of treating women respectfully. Some Trump haters believe that the president encourages sexual abuse.

Every negative issue in the country is traced back to Trump. African Americans say he’s a racist and racism is flourishing because he wants tougher police enforcement. Mexicans think he’s a xenophobe because he wants to build a wall to stop the flow of illegal aliens. Poor people say he is stealing from them and giving their money to the wealthy. Educators are telling their students to protest against him and prevent all conservatives from speaking in open forums. Terrorism is on the rise because Trump wants to protect the country from radical religious elements.

How could one man, who has been in office for a year and has not succeeded in enacting one new substantive law, —— up so many things? Did you ever consider that maybe it’s not all Trump’s fault?

What about all the politicians in Washington and around the country who have made a mockery of our government, cannot pass budgets, increased welfare without conditions, granted trillion dollar entitlements that are bankrupting the country, allowed 12 million plus illegal aliens into the country (and now protect them in sanctuary cities) and destroyed US relations with virtually every country in the world with inane foreign policies.

Yes, we should stop being aggravated by Trump’s obnoxious personality and focus on what he’s attempting to accomplish.

Tax reform is supposed to benefit the middle class and businesses. It is also intended to increase economic growth.

Immigration reform and “the wall” will hopefully rein in illegal immigration into the country from Mexico.

Dismantling Obamacare is supposed to decrease health care costs for the federal government and lower insurance premiums paid by Americans.

Abrogating the Iran nuclear deal is an attempt to stop our worst enemy from building a nuclear weapon. Increasing sanctions against North Korea is part of an effort to force the rogue nation to give up its nuclear ambitions.

Decreasing cumbersome financial regulations has been a boon to the prospects of the banking industry. This has enabled these institutions to better serve the needs of borrowers.

The president has badgered corporations to keep jobs in the country. This has benefited American workers, as unemployment is the lowest level in years.

Trump’s agenda is sound. The items on his list are good for America. It would be wise for all of us to support the president in spite of all his warts.