To debate the question of whether we are witnessing a collapsing culture, Bill welcomed Julie Alvin, who oversees lifestyle coverage for all of Time Inc.  She pointedly blamed President Trump for the decline in civility.  "There has been an erosion of decency and respect," Alvin said, "and the most glaring example of that is the person sitting in the White House.  He starts fights with foreign leaders and football players and congressmen.  The fact that he was voted into office is an indication of our culture collapse." 

Bill argued that the hatred and incivility began long before President Trump took office and blamed much of it on the anonymity of the Internet.  "It used to be," he contended, "that if you were going to smear somebody, you had to do it face-to-face.  But now you can bully people anonymously and that is putting our culture in danger." 

Alvin concurred, but only partly.  "The rancor between parties has been especially bad," she agreed, "and the Internet exacerbates that, but the president is setting a tone to the millions of people who follow him.  The presidency was always held up as being dignified, but the person in that position now is behaving like a petulant child.  What are parents supposed to say to their kids when Donald Trump is calling people names and disrespecting war heroes?"

Bill reminded his guest that all presidents have had moral failings and that Donald Trump won because Hillary Clinton was perceived as dishonest.  "People in Michigan and Ohio and Wisconsin didn't trust her.  So there were two flawed candidates and the folks went with the person they though would help them more.  You can't really say that a Trump presidency has made the culture more base when the alternative could have been worse!"

While no minds were changed and little common ground was found, Bill and Julie had a spirited and respectful discussion, always a good first step on the road to greater civility. 

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