Hyper-partisan hostility leads to Divided States of America

Partisanism is everywhere in American politics. Each party has its own political agenda. Their competition should drive the nation forward, not the other way around. The year 2022 has seen several outbreaks of partisan hostility between Democrats and Republicans. The two major parties have been fighting over issues that people are most concerned about, leading the country to nowhere but an increasingly divided state.

First on gun violence, Democrats support gun control while Republicans assert their rights to arm themselves against gun violence, some even suggesting that teachers should carry guns to protect their students. Every time after a mass shooting, the issue of gun control would become the hot topic of public debate. However, little has changed since then. The issue of curbing gun violence has been at a standstill for decades, trapped in a hyper-partisan deadlock.

Next on the abortion issue, the US Supreme Court became embroiled in a partisan split after overturning Roe v. Wade earlier this summer. Then, while striking down New York’s 109-year-old gun control law and curbing the US government’s ability to fight climate change, The US Supreme Court has descended into a battleground of partisan warfare, which puts judicial justice and independence at stake.

Then on immigration, when the Democrats lifted the border restrictions, the Republicans, who favor a tighter border policy, in return sent asylum seekers to the areas controlled by the Democrats – three buses loaded with about 140 immigrants drove by the home of the US Vice President, Kamala Harris. The capital on Christmas Eve, accusing them of not doing enough to stop migrants from crossing the border while Democrats criticized Republicans for “playing politics with people.” Faced with the humanitarian crisis, they blamed each other.

Moreover, the midterm elections in November exacerbated the hyperpartisan battles, with both sides trying to attack each other. So obsessed with election polls that they almost forgot they were elected to seek welfare for the masses, even seizing issues of gun control, abortion rights, immigration and climate change for their campaigns, while ignoring inflation at a 40-year high, gun violence and racism were on the rise.

Things didn’t change after the midterm elections. As Democrats retain control of the Senate and Republicans regain control of the House of Representatives, a divided US Congress is the best place for simmering partisan rivalry.

Partisanism has a profound effect on society. As hyper-partisan animosity grows, American society and the public face severe fragmentation. The United States of America became the Divided States of America. With the endless race between the two parties, how far will democracy go in the US?

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