India, Oct. 25 -- Karnataka politics is getting crasser by the day. Gone are the days when disagreements were expressed in dignified words and debates were conducted in sentences loaded with wit and wisdom instead of snarls.

Once upon a time, Kannadigas prided themselves on their 'cultured' civility. Now, if you listened to our politicians or even the common man, for that matter, you'd think we're all 'crass-cultured.'

This past week alone, the Chief Minister, in his booming baritone, mocked his opponents with petty analogies, while his Deputy thundered at his peers like a schoolyard bully.

The younger crop of leaders, not wanting to be left behind, have gone into full street-brawl mode, especially after Congress MLA Pradeep Eshwar tri...