Finding the middle ground

Politicization of everyday things has become widespread in America, but can people come to a political compromise?

COMMENTARY BY RAFAEL SANS, STAFF WRITER

As tensions rise between Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. with little to no consideration for the opposite political view, the country is being torn apart from the inside out. The American people need to close the nation's political divide and open a middle ground so they can effectively settle matters of dispute.

When considering controversial headlines people. in mainstream media like gun-control, “[People] straight up attack and attack climate change and the 2020 U.S. Presidential instead of hearing [the other side] out,” Election, Democrats and Republicans have sophomore Lucia Chico said. been confined to two seemingly opposite The nonstop political upheaval in the stereotypes. Democrats are typically thought nation has left it in a state that neither side to be more liberal, advocating for radical wants. A study conducted by the Pew Research change in America’s system and primarily Center determined to what degree Republicans reject the ideologies of Republicans who are and Democrats criticized each other based thought to push to maintain the traditions that on a multitude of negative characteristics. make up the constitutional system of America.

This causes major political conflict as many Republicans are more dishonest than other voters immediately disregard all candidates Americans. tied to their opposing party, regardless of the politicians’ individual views. Roughly only one in ten voters affiliated with the Republican Party since 2018 have leaned towards a Democratic candidate in an election, according to the Pew Research Center.

I find that every time I even get into an argument about politics right now, it goes to one view: far left [or] far-right,” social studies teacher Aaron Miller said.

This political chess match between Democrats opposable thumbs and Republicans reaches past resonating with voters who affiliate with their party. Each group actively works to eliminate the ‘middle ground’ as they try to sway non-party affiliated voters to support their fundamental views. With such extreme sides that are being exposed to these centrist people, they are being forced to pick a side and are politically bullied into submission by extremists. These polar views are not allowing either side to come to a consensus on what views on specific issues would be socially beneficial for the American people.

Similarly, concerning the same type of ethical criticism, 47% of Republicans claim that Democrats are more immoral than other Americans. These statistics are relatively balanced with both sides expressing comparatively a similar amount of criticism to the other partisan side.

“When I used to teach civics in middle school, I used to give them this questionnaire. It was a basic thing. And it was like, ‘Am I a Democrat or a Republican?’,” Miller said. “Nine times out of 10 what most people realized is that they were not one or the other, they were 60/40 of some combination, if not 50/50 but almost never was somebody 100% blindly in support with the views of a party.”

With this in mind, it is evident that anyone can support a combination of various political views. One can support a strong policy of law and order, yet may still accept the current state of climate change. There are various partisan groups that have emerged that are politically founded on a middle ground. Conservative democrats and liberal republicans are a prime example of individuals from a specific partisan group accepting and advocating for more centrist views. In congress, this group of individuals are known as the “Blue Dog Coalition,” who advocate for centrist Sharon Florez/ policies in congress.

Here in the U.S., if voters base their views on those of more highlights tolerant and centripetal groups, then there would be less heightened social clash throughout the nation and more educated and receptive political debate.