Is it sleep deprivation or perhaps too much talk radio that has created this new group of reactionary angry Republicans? I simply can't lay this trend at the feet of Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh. It is, however, a dangerously anti-Republican trend.

Part of my recent experience is on Twitter, which itself encourages a retardation of discourse. Twitter isn't so much about actual conversations but little blips which by their very nature (140 character limit) demand simpleton expression. But, I find this creeps into all forms of modern political conversation.

If you say anything that indicates you're open to discussing alternatives to the status quo, the Republican zombies attack. They hurl accusations of socialist, liberal or some other simplistic insult. Those words are actually quite complex and nuanced themselves, much like the issues we should discuss regarding government and its role in our lives. Understanding the difference between a communist and a fascist requires a rather deep understanding of political structures. But, the slanderous intent behind these modern slurs is simpleton. A libertarian can be labled a socialist because he suggests that employer based health insurance plans aren't necessarily the best market product for the consumer. Fascist, socialist, nazi, etc. are all just slang. These people never actually consider the definitions of the terms they use as they do or don't apply to their new found ideological enemy.

You can't have a rational discussion about real-life economics with this growing clique of modern Republicans.

There is a liberal version of this religion of intolerance. I call it the cosmopolitan cult. These people have a laundry list of political and social beliefs that one must hold to be considered a viable citizen. Stepping outside the mainstream makes you a bigot, hate monger or some other avatar label. Those labels don't actually mean anything other than you disagree with their position. You don't have to be angry or bigoted.

This intolerance is justified on the religious belief that these core principals are ideological cornerstones on which any rational debate must begin. To reject these cornerstones rejects humanity itself. Therefor you must not be suffered. Of course, you don't have to disagree with legitimate base level ideas, like free market is better than government regulation. Simply stepping out on a limb and started a conversation about the details may cause you do commit sin against one of their many political gods.

Republicans have a history of practical internal debates about degrees of a government-free lifestyle we can practically enjoy. Republicans aren't pure ideological libertarians. There's a party for those kind of people (hint: it's the Libertarian party). They tend to be a more pragmatic group of thinkers regarding social programs that work because some social programs do in fact work. For example, few Republicans are in favor of eliminating all public schools or the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).

This angry mob is intent on arguing not with what you say but with the straw man they created prior to your discussion. It's not that some liberal groups don't have much the same reaction to their hot button topics. I just find this new wave of Republican imbecility a particularly anti-Republican movement.

No topic is more inflaming than healthcare regulation. Oddly, many of these reactionaries like to pretend that we don't presently labor under much regulation in healthcare. Medicine is heavily regulated. It's also largely ignored that most healthcare bills are paid by the government now. To call the present American healthcare system free market is laughable. But, questioning the present system is questioning liberty itself even if your solutions are free market derived. Suggesting that employer based insurance isn't perfect is blasphemy.

This is not the Republican party I joined in my youth. This growing ideology is a malignant cult of ignorance.