“Please allow her to respond. She didn’t talk while you talked.”

Anderson Cooper’s reprimand of Donald Trump for interrupting his opponent, Hillary Clinton, emulates the tone of the second Presidential Debate: begrudging parents correcting elementary banter laced with ad hominems. That night’s two moderators, CNN’s Anderson Cooper and ABC News’ Martha Raddatz worked stringently to keep both candidates in line and to the clock. This was to no avail, of course. Hillary and Donald cannot play nice.

Whether you were watching his restless refusal to take a seat (nerves or an utter failure at intimidation, or both) or her low jabs about his campaign “exploding and the way Republicans are leaving you,” the American people were bound to be disappointed. Trump never answered a question, his digressions and nonsensical utterances merely left potential voters and undecideds dazed and confused. Clinton perpetuated her air of arrogance with a hint of condescension toward her rival.

Many early polls deemed Clinton as the conspicuous winner- to no surprise. Though her haughty demeanor may dig under some people’s skin, she bathes in the spotlight of debate- no matter the forum- like a queen on her throne. Her answers were effective, she addressed the citizen who asked the question, and she remained (somewhat) polite, at least to the moderators.

Trump. Oh, has he dug himself a hole this time. His political ploy of toting along three women who accused Bill Clinton of sexual assault did not appear to phase Hillary. His answers were evasive and indirect, and he attacked the moderators as he and Raddatz challenged each other to a verbal duel. And not only did he fail appeal to minorities, but he did not apologize. The recordings manifesting Trump with Billy Bush and Howard Stern commenting about how he “makes moves” on women were disgusting. He remarked on human beings as if they were prizes to be won or ornaments available for purchase. Trump has received a score of castigations in the press, on social media, and from several illustrious members of the GOP, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, many of whom now revoke their previous pledges of support for the candidate.

As each candidate sauntered on stage Sunday night, they refused to shake hands. Is this what our politics have plunged to? Can our potential leaders not summon the respect, the cordiality, to even extend the simplest emblem of civility? This debate left disappointment in the hearts of Americans, not only because of the candidates’ unsatisfactory choices nor their unanswered questions, but because this election signifies war. A war not only of egos and partisanship and corruption, but of a system working against the common man, whose voice is muffled under the shouts of blind politicians and a government so enthralled with reelection they have forgotten their constitutional duty to serve their constituents.

Our dissenters cannot rise in the figure of loud, angry old men who are disillusioned with free college and they cannot lead as misogynistic demagogues. The gilded haze of the American hero is pressed upon children who are taught about George Washington (without his slaves) and Thomas Jefferson (sans the womanizing). They are taught the byproduct of American exceptionalism is hope and not ignorance, that we are the greatest country in the world, and that the American Dream glistens on a silver platter for all in this egalitarian society.