We artificially limit the debates to a two view dialogue, to start, and then we distort it so that you get a far right versus right debate on issues like trade (free trade isn't since it ignores externalities like pollution, labor, and wealth).

-We say we want peace, but we are a warlike people who spend more on our military than all other countries in the world combined.

-We say that we’re all created equal, yet voters in most states enthusiastically support constitutional amendments (aka 21st century Jim Crow laws) against gay and lesbian citizens.

-Equal protection, the notion that the law treats everyone the same, has always been a sham. Only wealthy, white, heterosexual Americans believe we have equal protection under the law.

-America is a liberal democracy. Truth: Every election since Nixon has shown that modern America is a right wing nation more like Iran than other western democracies.

-Most Americans claim to follow the lessons of Jesus Christ, who taught forgiveness, truth, tolerance and compassion, yet they support politicians who openly use hatred, lies and fear as campaign tactics.

-We claim to welcome immigrants and then lambaste and blame them for taking our jobs.

I could go on, but the point is that we’re a country whose actions are so incongruent with our supposed values that we’ve passed the point of collective denial and are now in full blown, feverish psychosis.

Cynicism is caused by society's hypocrisy. It's the symptom, not the disease.