Sen. Lamar Alexander described American attitudes toward politics, policy and people as ugly, with even more hidden beneath the surface.
The issue of civility or the lack thereof is defined hourly in comments on newspaper Web sites, radio talk shows and the myriad of talking-head programs that dot the cable broadcast spectrum.
To the Tennessee Republican, the differences are being played out in various opinion slots through expressions as to where the country is heading.
Some lay the responsibility for the angry mood that permeates the country at the feet of those in Washington: the Congress, the Obama administration, the political parties and their funded extensions.
Sen. Alexander believes the Senate is setting a civil tone even though Democrats as well as Republicans vote as a bloc.
Some might disagree with his perspective, feeling that the 100-member body is moving closer to the more cantankerous 435-member body that resides on the other side of the U.S. Capitol.
The House of Representatives, the body that the Founding Fathers envisioned as majority rules with sometimes outrageous behavior, is not the role model for the deliberative body that used to be the Senate.
The problems with the legislative process in Washington are easy to define; the difficulty comes from sorting out who is more responsible for the breakdown of respect for differing points of view.
Sure, politics is raucous. Words are expressed in the heat of political battle. But in the past the rougher edges were smoothed out after hours.
It may be that in today's heated political crucible, reaching out to the other side is viewed as a weakness. Strength often is measured in numbers, and the Democrats have exercised their strength.
The Republicans have used their numerically lower strength to send a message, too.
The Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, cast his lot and those of his 40 Senate compatriots along a path to vote no.
But the exercise of power is measured by more than mere numbers. The unanswered question is whether people will follow the paths being charted.
There will be partisans on both sides who point at each other as the cause of the problem.
But if, as Sen. Alexander expresses, the issues boil down
to a disagreement over the role of Washington (federal government) in American life, then the past 15 months are merely a setup for the remaining seven until voters return to the polls to express either their sense of outrage or support for the Democrats, the Republicans or both.
And health care or the parts of it being targeted for repeal are the proxy for the debate that Republicans expect to conduct in the fall elections.
It is hard to imagine anyone believes that the health care package passed two weeks ago will not be modified, revised, amended or recast as implementation begins. That process will extend over years.
Practical application will show what works, the flaws, the remaining excesses and the required fixes.
If there is any doubt, the fourth arm of government -- the lobbyists -- will make sure.
In a political world that exists on winners and losers, acknowledging that black and white are not always the primary colors of political choice is considered by some as a sign of weakness.
Even those who cite the bipartisanship in 1965 when Medicare was established have to know that modifications dotted the legislative landscape decades later.
The die has been cast for the clash of the titans who stand on each side of the political divide; not much more will happen until voters head to the polls.
That may not be so bad.
To reach Tom Griscom, call 423-757-6472 or e-mail tgriscom@timesfreepress.com.