Red or blue, right or left, conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, citizens all across America have been forced to pick between one of these two sides as the political climate in America grew increasingly hostile leading up to the 2020 presidential election. Both parties have become more and more aggressive toward each other, and this hostility between the parties has led to all politics becoming contentious to the point of outright violence.
While both sides are to blame for the respective violence, the aggressive nature of current politics is in part due to the system itself and the fact that there are two, and only two, major political parties in America. Any system with two sides that have differing opinions or ideologies can and will eventually find those two sides at odds with each other. This scenario has played out to an extreme degree in America.
Many Americans have become fiercely loyal to their respective parties, and the only thing stronger than their love for their party is their hatred for the other. Members of the opposite side are no longer seen as Americans, neighbors or even humans. They are now seen solely as the enemy. The media vilifies the opposite party, lumping every member in with the most radical of their side. People vote to keep the other party out of office instead of for a candidate they believe in. Americans are more intent on seeing the other side proven wrong than with their own success. This loyalty for one’s own party and hatred of the enemy party is even stronger than one’s loyalty for their own country.
The founding fathers warned America about the dangers of not only parties but, very specifically, two opposing parties.
“There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other,” said John Adams. “This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.”
Having only two parties creates the ideology of “us or the enemy.” This is the danger of the system, as it inherently divides.
However, not all Americans think this way. Some have unique views on policies and believe some of both sides. Yet, these Americans are still forced to pick between one of the two sides, as the third party option is largely considered throwing your vote away. Once they have picked one of the two sides, they are then lumped in with the radicals and are thrown into the same conflicts.
Moderation is no longer an option for Americans, as they are forced to pick one party and become the enemy of the other. This leads to where America is today. It seems everyone is at the throat of their neighbor and rioting is common on the news.
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