How Dangerous Is Divisive Political Rhetoric?

My 2 cents for what its worth- I am a registered Republican in Tennessee, although I now consider myself an Independent. Every day for the past 2 months, I have been getting in the mail the most absurd "propaganda" (for lack of better word) attacking democratic candidates for Senator and Governor, and playing on fear of 3 things: Criminal Immigrants, Socialist takeover by democrats, and abolishment of the 2nd amendment. TV Commercials are the same- Republican ads center around generating fear and portraying "liberals" as evil. Instead of focusing on the real issues that effect everyone, the Republicans seem to rally around the same fears and animosity that the President projects almost daily, and their entire campaigns are centered on it. Although ideologically I consider myself center/leaning right (I always come out Libertarian when I take the test) I cannot identify with much the Republican Party and the President represent now. That does not make me a "liberal" or card carrying democrat, just a man without a "tribe". The rhetoric is divisive. We are so polarized, that BOTH parties are defined by the other on actions and words of the extreme left and the extreme right. I certainly do not believe all democrats are "socialists" and ANTIFA sympathizers anymore than I believe all republicans are racist white nationalists. But that has become the perception now, hasn't it?

Political rhetoric has ALWAYS been mainstream in America. The problem is we’ve become to thin skinned and take disagreements of policy as personal attacks. Now days it’s a ‘hate crime’ to have a differing opinion.