A lack of civility is not a new development in American society, or American politics. Going back to the Founding Fathers, debates could be personally bruising and insulting.

There are several ways to define lack of civility. It’s poor manners, poor values, and poor judgment. In America, it’s also a political process that suffers from eroding public confidence.

Two trademarks of the Information Age highlight America’s current struggle with political civility.