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Effects Of Party Polarization

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In modern mass media, we see terms such as “liberal” and “conservative” get thrown around constantly. Political figures and pundits alike bitterly debate over issues such as abortion and Social Security. Presidential candidates make promises that fall in line with their political party. But most notable of all is the fact that the two biggest and most influential political parties, the Democratic Party and Republican Party, cannot seem to agree on any issue no matter how trivial or critical it may be. We hear news reports on Obamacare being despised by Republicans, or House Republicans promising to veto any form of gun control. We hear Democrats blaming Republicans for legislative stagnation and the rise in unemployment. The main effect of these occurrences is known as party polarization, a phenomenon in the United States where the two main political parties are seen as polar opposites of each other and therefore highly discouraged from collaborating or uniting. Party polarization causes a person’s political beliefs and ideals to be defined by the political party they identify with. There are many reasons for this devotion to a party’s political standpoints, such as regional and/or cultural differences, the desire for an increase in each party’s power and influence by special interest groups, and the general narrowing of political parties into the two-party system.

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