Is it the people?
Is it the media?
Is it just me?

Our local paper carried a front page story yesterday, headlined "Fur To Fly At Shelter Meeting". It referenced a meeting scheduled last night re operation of the local animal shelter.

This morning, a front page story was headlined "Hackles Up At Shelter Meeting". The story reported "Frustration on all sides - evident by sometimes heated discussion and even a few tears..." It went on to detail that "The roughly 30-member audience seemed divided..." as to the operation of the animal shelter.

Back on page 2, middle of the page, an AP report headlined "Demos get advice on handling health-care protests". It explained that Democratic Senators were given talking points for use at town hall meetings, promised the party would respond with full force if any individual lawmaker is criticized in TV ads, and ended with a statement by Harry Reid that "These (protests) are nothing more than destructive efforts to interrupt a debate that we should have and are having".

The paper never mentioned that our own two Senators have chickened out and plan no town hall meetings.

Our local newspaper and at least some of our citizens are overwrought with concerns about STRAY DOGS!

They don't give a damn about the fact that people exercising their constitutional right to free speech, in matters of importance to PEOPLE, are being depicted as orchestrated mobs.

What the hell is going on in America? Have I just turned into a 'grumpy old man'? Are our people going brain dead? Are our newspapers, already on the brink of extinction, just shriveling up and dying?

Help!