In his most recent columns in The New York Times, Paul Krugman has been examining the dynamics of the growing evidence of violence in the US. He is on the mark, and what he has to say deserves our attention and reflection. It's worth digging deeper. Krugman doesn't address all—and particularly the more deeply—underlying causes of the increasing evidence of a "culture of violence."
I think there is a major cultural breakdown occurring in the US, and it has to do with the erosion of connectedness and empathy, the rise of isolation, fear and anger. "Virtual" connectedness is too often—not always, it should be obvious to say, but see The Times' recent series—a mask for disconnection, like—again, with obvious exceptions—watching TV or playing video games.