The Price of an Opinion

From Newsweek:

When did we become so polarized that we lost our ability to have a civilized discussion about complex issues?.... Remember when we were kids and one of the most common comebacks was, "Hey, it’s a free country!" I haven’t done a survey of school-yards, but I kind of doubt kids say that as much now. They probably know that it might not be entirely true.

Amen to this. I think we all like to be right, but when did it become a necessity, and when did anyone who disagrees with you become an idiot? I wish we, as a people, could find this place again.