Sometimes I think I live in a bubble. That’s right, when I watch the GOP primary campaign circus, I don’t understand many of my fellow Americans. Is it me? Am I just too dense? Too out of it? Too old?

Consider the three current frontrunners for the GOP presidential nomination:

Let’s start with Donald Trump, the reality TV star who has insulted everything and everyone with the notable exception of Russia’s president Vladimir Putin. He’s dissed Mexicans, Muslims, African-Americans, debate moderators, women, gays, the handicapped, politicians, even the Pope! When this brash bully plays to fears and greed he gets rewarded for “telling it like it is.”

Then we have smarmy Sen. Ted Cruz, a ghoulish character right out of the Addams Family. Even his Senate colleagues can’t stand him. Cruz plays the Christian card while sitting in the Devil’s chair. When asked why so many people take an instant dislike to Cruz, one person who knows him well explained, “Because it saves time.”

Then there’s robotic Sen. Marco Rubio. His boyish looks and Cuban roots earn him consideration, right? Well, not really. Scratch a little deeper and Rubio’s appeal soon wanes. What, exactly, has he accomplished in the Senate besides the dubious distinction of having missed more votes this past year than any other Senator? By the way, Rubio exhibited his truant ways early on. As a member of the Florida legislature, he wangled a seat on the Florida Select Committee on Security after 9/11. Then he skipped half the meetings during the first six months, more than any other member. He mouths good talking points; has he demonstrated real leadership?

Instead of pledging to unite a polarized nation, these three candidates blame President Obama for everything that’s wrong in the U.S. and the world. They offer promises, not plans. Make the sale; hold the specifics. By the way, shame on the moderators for both Republican and Democrat debates for not asking, “How do you plan to work with the other party to get things done for America?” Rather, they fan the flames of discord to generate high ratings. Interestingly, no one I know — including my Republican friends — favors any of the aforementioned three presidential candidates.

Let’s look at the bigger picture. Many Evangelical Christians today believe that the U.S. is a Christian nation, blithely ignoring the separation of Church and State principle. George Washington and Ronald Reagan, to name but two good examples, disagreed. (Washington: “The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” Reagan: “We established no religion in this country.”)

Consider climate change. Republican political leaders are about the only people on the planet who deny a human role in climate change. Sadly, their views play well to those unwilling or unable to accept scientific facts. Ironically, the Environmental Protection Agency was established during the presidency of a Republican: Richard Nixon.

Immigrant-bashing has become a blood sport played by those seeking votes in Republican primaries. Never mind our long tradition of welcoming immigrants to our shores. And never mind that in 1986 Republican idol President Ronald Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which legalized close to 3 million undocumented immigrants.

Republican fear-mongers claim that our military has been decimated. Yet U.S. military expenditures exceed that of the next eight countries combined. What would it take to bring us up to speed in their eyes I wonder? What am I missing?

Perhaps primary voters merely reflect the dumbing down of America. On that point, check out the YouTube video which shows a Texas Tech journalism student asking basic history questions of her fellow students. To the question, “Who won the Civil War?,” for example, some of the answers were, “We did.” And “Who was in it?” And “Which one, the one in 1965.?” And “The Confederacy.” Many of these students could not recall the name of the current Vice President of the United States, but every single student knew which show Snooki starred in (“Jersey Shore”) and who was married to Brad Pitt (Angela Jolie).

Too many of our fellow Americans crave the certitude of simple sound bites, the elixir of easy answers. There’s no time for nuance, no room for reflection, little patience for serious debate. I don’t want to sound elitist, but I do fear for the future of our nation, given what millions of our fellow Americans seem to seek in their leaders.

Yes, sometimes I think I live in a bubble.

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David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” column at dtreadw575@aol.com.