Has American politics been reduced to insulting and belittling people who disagree?

Actually what you mention is not Politics per se..but Medias influence being so vast that political parties use the media and kinda feed the big barking dog. If you will...avoid all media for a week...then when you re plug into the m marketing tool that is always 50% "Commercials" see what has changed...It will more than likely be you. To me Politics should not be full time controversy.