Civil Discourse

When I first retired, my wife suggested that since I was concerned about politics I should go to a local get-together at our civic center.  She was still working, and she thought this would give me a good chance to vent my feelings about what was happening in the political arena.  The first meeting started on a friendly note, but quickly degenerated into a bash of many of the things I felt are important to value.  Any discussion of the cost associated with actions they seemed to feel were necessary to cure the perceived ills of the conservative agenda were quickly dispensed with.  Statements made by many were rambling statements, as an example, with, "Republicans want dirty water and pollution in our air".  How do you respond to broad statements like that?  Of course we don't want dirty water or pollution, we have families too.  How did they get such distorted views and how did they become so pernicious?  What is civil discussion?  Do we make a singular point that we believe to be true, and state it?  Do we give someone who has a differing point the courtesy of time to respond?  Do we choose to use expletives when responding?  Sadly, I have learned the hard lesson that with many who I disagree with will not participate in political discussion in a manner where at the end we can shake hands.