By Brianna Hall
Opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of NYU DC Violets or the NYU DC Program, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
Everyone can agree that political polarization in America has reached a new peak. It seems that Democrats and Republicans have a wall between them that either side refuses to climb over. Is it stubbornness that keeps us on either side of this wall? Or is there something greater holding us back?
Unfortunately, there has long been a pattern in America of many influential and powerful politicians in our country pursuing self-interest and status above progress for America. These politicians, who value the elitism of their image so much, have branded themselves as the seal of their political parties. It was this kind of self-interest pursued by egotistical politicians interlaced with the ideals of a political party that birthed modern-day polarization. Those involved in either party defend the ideals of their party to no end, and will twist the truth, and create their own version of the truth, to prove that their party is “right”.
Republicans and Democrats alike use different language, cover different stories, and use media to pursue the worst stereotypes of the opposing party to show to citizens. Democrats watch the Democratic version of this sequence, as Republicans watch the Republican version. For every news story or political event in America, there are two different stories. With the members of both parties believing that the version of the story that their party tells is the truth. This is how America came to know two different truths: The Republican and the Democratic.
Political parties are meant to be a base of ideals that grows with and for America, and that most importantly interacts with the opposing party. Political parties are meant to be a base of ideals that grows with and for America, and that most importantly interacts with the opposing party. The point of two parties is for one set of ideals to compensate for the inevitable weaknesses in the opposing set of ideals, and vice versa. There is no purpose in defending one’s party, that is just an excuse politicians use to defend themselves. It would be much wiser for us to defend our beliefs than our political affiliation. Two opposite parties were meant to build upon each other to bring America together and to defend America from bias. It is now the time that as a nation we reevaluate the purpose of political parties and separate these parties from individual people. American politics is so fixated with the tug-of-war between Democrats and Republicans that we have lost sight of how to problem solve and make progress.
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