Partisanship is the New Racism.

The other day I was speaking to someone about politics. It wasn’t my choice, but this person is particularly submerged in their own [short] list of “political accomplishments”. Any conversation with them eventually leads to, of course, politics. Particularly their politics.

All throughout the discussion were various attacks on the opposite party. “Oh, so and so is such a dirty liberal, I could just kill her!”. I am sorry, I promise for the sake of non-partsianship I will find a douche bag democrat for my next anti-partisanship post. It’s not hard.

After a momentous election, and the inauguration of an African-American president, the world declared racism dead as a door nail. But assuming that is true (which it isn’t) then I think the next thing to replace it will be good ol’ fashion partisanship. Partisanship that extends beyond Washington and resides inside everyone. 

Right now, all these political parties do is divide us as a nation, and empower close minded, ignorant people to form opinions based on party loyalty and not on logic, reason, sense of goodness, or self learning. They build walls between people, close them off from others. I ask you, is that any different from racism? When one person is insulted (or in this case threatened) based upon what they believe, how is that any different than insulting a person based on their race, gender, or religion?

These divisions form this sort of vernacular of…let’s face it, hatred amongst people. “Oh so and so is such a liberal I f**king hate them.” or “Oh so and so is a major conservative asshole.” How is this different from calling someone a spick, a cracker, or a nigger? 

There are two types of people. People who like politics, who seek to understand it from both sides. Who read everything to stay educated, and who seek the opinions of others rather than push them away. Then there are those that gorge themselves on one side of everything. Who shun opinions and relaxed discourse for brash outbursts and personal attacks. Those who use their party loyalty as justification for not hearing another person out. For saying “No, I’m right. You’re wrong. Deal with it.”

People who are fiercely loyal to their party aren’t really helping anyone, least of all themselves. When one follows blindly, there is no one to call foul. No one to say “Hey guys, we’re doing this wrong why don’t we rethink this.” People will just continue to vote, learn, discuss, speak with party loyalty in mind. 

In the 2008 elections, experts constantly reminded us that this election is going to come down to the swing voters, voters who don’t neccesarily ride on the party bandwagon. In a perfect world, we would all be swing voters. 

“I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the state, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.” – George Washington

Seriously, who gave George Washington a crystal ball that let him see in to the future? Even Washington noticed the potential walls political parties can build between people. Though not as high or as thick are they as the walls of Racism now, they can be.

Racism has held us back, and divided us. It has hurt us, and it’s scars are visible on the face of American history. Though my argument is that this hard line party loyalty that resides in most people has that same potential, now more than ever. We have a president who seeks to end this partisanship and unite where there was once division. But is it too late? Can our nation deal a blow to partisanship, much like the swearing in of Barack Obama dealt a blow to racism? Who knows.

“I adore political parties. They are the only place left to us where people don’t talk politics.” – Oscar Wilde