Thanks Doug, an excellent post that covers the full spectrum on political populism that has reduced our nation to it's lowest common denominator.    Drummed up 'passion' for a political cause puts our national psyche in imbalance, with the emotional overwhelming the rational.     IMO it's a consequence of professional persuasion that finds an easy to target in the American public.   

Conditioned by a century of commercial persuasion pushing us to gross levels of consumerism, the 'persuaders' have found the same sales methods work just fine in the political realm.    The clear sign of the well funded political propaganda machine  is the election of a professional salesman who cares little for rational, difficult process needed for win/win mediation. 

The shooter is a mental case, but every person who picks up a rock, or throw careless and demeaning insults at political opposition should absolutely know they contributed to the petri dish that allows violence to flourish.