Partisan Politics Part Three

Are we losing faith and confidence in the present political system?

Partisan politics and negative campaigning are often motivated by very strong negative feelings of anger and fear regarding the other side who are seen as the adversary.  These feelings are often vented not in a very positive way, but through negative behavior focused on discrediting and destroying the opponent.

Feelings of anger and frustration with those you disagree with need to be discharged and vented, but not in a negative fashion. Asserting your position in a positive way can be a good thing. Expressing it in an aggressive and hostile fashion often only results in more of the same, and the paralysis of the system and the organization in which it is occurring.

One of the things that was obvious in the mid-term elections was that people have lost faith and confidence in the present political system. They are tired of nothing being done. They’re fed up with gridlock and paralysis. Unfortunately, the American people have lost a good deal of confidence in themselves as well. Confidence in yourself and the organization that you are a part of is one of the best buffers against fear and anxiety. The loss of confidence explains to some degree the increase in anxiety and fear in this country.

Another thing that happens when paralysis and rigor mortis sets in is that people begin to question where they and their country are going. Nothing seems to be happening. There seems to be no point and no direction. This, again, undermines the sense of confidence that people have in the organization that they are working in and are a part of. People need to feel that they have a direction and that they and the organization or group that they are a part of is acting in a way that is consistent with their values.  Clearly, in the recent elections the feeling was that many of the politicians and both of the political parties were not doing this.

Unfortunately, all of the above encourages people to feel that what is happening is going to be a permanent state of affairs and that its effect is going to be pervasive on them and their government. Partisan politics, as we have said, encourages blaming.  All of this can end up with people feeling pretty pessimistic about the future and contribute to people feeling depressed and increasingly angry and unhappy with their government, their lives and each other.

There is also a lack of real humor in partisan politics. Political cartoons, although sometimes quite creative, are usually aimed at discrediting the opponent and making fun of the opposition. When Paul LePage, Maine’s controversial governor, was reelected, the political cartoonist at our local paper drew a cartoon of himself celebrating the election, indicating that he would have another four years of LePage antics to do cartoons about.

Partisan politics is stressful for everyone involved, both for those who are being attacked and those who are attacking. I don’t know that much good ever really comes out of attacking and putting another person down and being negative and saying no certainly doesn’t end up with us doing much to take care of others who need our assistance. Partisan politics is focused on me, me, me, and my side and no one else.  It does not encourage people to be inclusive or to be concerned with the needs or the feelings of others who differ from us. As I have said a number of times in this blog, taking care of others is one way in which we build and maintain our own resilience.