I have been thinking a lot about political partisanship lately. It seems to have gotten more and more extreme in the past few years. I have seen how it can hurt relationships, fill people with unhealthy anger, fear, and dread, and even cause people to ignore their moral compasses.
I have changed a lot over the years politically. I was a Republican for a long time, mostly because I thought I was supposed to be, but also because I held quite a few conservative values. A few years ago, though, I felt the need to detach from a party and become an independent voter. The initial reason was because I didn’t like that I could only vote in Republican primaries. As time went on, and as I started doing more research on party platforms, I soon realized I am more of a centrist who believes in respectfully working across the aisle and compromising. Becoming an independent voter meant even more to me then, and it also helped me recognize that the partisanship I once held was holding me back as a person. I am not saying that being a part of a political party is wrong or bad, but blind loyalty to a party and its leaders regardless of the consequences of their words and actions can be a real problem.
I don’t think a lot of people realize how partisan they really are, so I came up with a series of questions under multiple categories to test it. I will answer each question as well to test my own partisanship.
*Note: There are absolutely more than two political parties, but since only two parties are major enough to get constant attention, that is how I will focus these question and responses.
Voting
Are you a straight ticket voter, meaning do you only vote for people of your own party without researching any candidates?
I admit that I used to do that. I was a Republican, so the obvious course of action was to only vote for Republicans, right? For positions that were nonpartisan, I am ashamed to admit that sometimes I would just pick names that sounded good. I no longer do this. For the past several years of elections, I have painstakingly taken the time to research each and every candidate for each and every position, whether federal, state, or local. I look at many factors before choosing who to vote for, but party is no longer one of those factors.
Do you do research before voting for initiatives, or do you just automatically adopt your party’s position?
I did not used to do research on initiatives, but most of the time, I didn’t even know much about them before voting. Now, I do my research in advance on initiatives and make a decision based on what I feel is best, regardless of what the different parties prefer.
Are you a one-issue voter, meaning do you vote the way you do because of one issue that is important to you?
To be honest, the one big reason I voted Republican for so long was because I was pro-life and I was very against abortion, except for a few exceptions. I am ashamed to admit that I didn’t know anything about Roe vs. Wade for a long time, nor did I understand the perspectives and intents behind being pro-life vs. pro-choice (which I assumed meant pro-abortion). I just made assumptions based on what I was taught, and those assumptions were based on very black and white thinking. Never once did I consider which perspectives and policies helped reduce abortions the most. I no longer am a one-issue voter because there are so many important issues to consider.
News and Information
Do you only follow news sources that consistently show your party and its leaders in a positive light while showing a consistently negative bias towards the other party and its leaders?
I don’t recall ever choosing conservative news sources over other options, mostly because I didn’t really follow the news for a long time. I honestly didn’t think about the importance of choosing well-rounded news sources until a few years ago. I wrote about it here.
Do you mistrust fact checkers and assume they are misleading you, especially when they fact check your party leaders?
I actually do trust fact checkers. I can’t recall a time I didn’t. I have always appreciated those who take the time to give the full context of a situation or statement. Overall, I find fact checks to be very valuable and unbiased.
When you hear or read an article or story about a hot-button subject, do you immediately get heated and angry?
I used to get upset any time I read or heard anyone talk about being pro-choice. I was ignorant at that time about what that meant, and I would get upset thinking about how horrible it was that people could be pro-abortion. I have since learned they are not the same thing and there are many reasons for someone to be pro-choice, as well as many facts about abortion and the best ways to prevent abortion that I didn’t know or understand. I wrote about my findings several years ago here. I now try to understand why something is a hot-button topic and do research on it from all angles so I can better figure out my own views.
Social Media
Are you mean-spirited on social media? Do you insult people, accuse people, gaslight people, villainize people, and share/like content that is also mean-spirited?
I didn’t really post about political things much before a few years ago. I felt called to start doing it in the name of truth and decency. I am careful before posting things because I truly do not want to come across as mean-spirited in any way. It is truly difficult because I want to share truth and spread light, but I don’t want to upset people either. I am still working on that balance, but I truly do think about how I am coming across to others.
Are you more likely to post/share things that make you instantly fired up, or do you take the time to fact check and calm down before posting or sharing?
I didn’t used to share/post politically based things, but when I do now, I make sure to fact check first. I make sure that a story I’m sharing has been reported multiple times by multiple news sources. I occasionally will post something that an individual wrote or recorded about their own personal experiences if I think it helps bring something important to light, but I don’t share those types of things unless they are expressed in an articulate, respectful, and heart-felt manner and are an extension of something I already know to be true.
Do you unfollow or block people on social media just because they post political/social perspectives that you don’t agree with or because they align with another political party than you do?
Years ago, there were times when I would unfollow someone just because they were passionate about political initiatives that did not align with my party. They weren’t necessarily being mean-spirited or anything, but because it made me uncomfortable and I wasn’t ready to think outside of my own views, I absolutely did unfollow people. I do not do that now. As long as people post about their social/political views in a way that is respectful and truthful, I’m totally fine with it. When people consistently post things that are untrue, mean-spirited, or prejudiced, I sometimes do unfollow for my own personal peace, but it hurts my heart to do so.
Your Side
Do you believe that your political party is supreme and is the only party who does good things?
I did think at one point that the Republican party was the more moral or Christian party, but I no longer believe that. At this point, I believe that political parties hurt more than they help. They cause division rather than harmony and I wish they didn’t exist. George Washington actually warned about political parties, and he was absolutely right.
When a prominent member/leader of your party does something that many people find abhorrent, do you dismiss people’s concerns and make a statement like this: “What about when so and so from the other party did something similar?” (This is called whataboutism.)
I learned in college that this type of thinking or conversation doesn’t help anyone. It doesn’t help in the middle of an argument with a friend, family member, or spouse, and it doesn’t help in politics either. I was taught that two wrongs don’t make a right, and one person’s wrong doesn’t justify or minimize someone else’s wrong. Wrong is wrong regardless of who is doing it and it’s important to stand for truth and right all the time.
Do you believe everything that your party’s political leaders claim to be true without doing any personal research to confirm?
I don’t remember if I used to believe everything or not. I might have to a certain extent, but I have never had total and complete trust in and loyalty to a political leader before.
Do you agree with/defend everything your party’s political leaders do or say, even if you would never do or say them yourself?
I used to be like this to a certain extent. I can think of a couple times when I felt the need to defend a bill or action. It was more of me trying to save face as a Republican because I couldn’t bear the thought of supporting something that wasn’t good. I now believe that was selfish and cowardly of me.
The Other Side
Do you make assumptions and quick judgments about people just because of their political party?
I don’t really do that now, but I used to assume that people couldn’t be good Christians if they were Democrats. I feel ashamed I used to think that. I know many loving, compassionate, merciful, and Christlike people who are Democrats.
Do you use derogatory terms for members of the other party?
I don’t recall ever using derogatory terms, but I am not a generally mean-spirited person and don’t like being called names myself. I believe in treating people the way I want to be treated.
When you find out about someone’s political party (and it’s not the one you are part of), do you have a hard time finding things to like about that person; do you even want to try?
I am willing to be friends with anyone who will be kind and respectful to me, and I will do the same for them. However, when I was a Republican, I would be uncomfortable at times knowing that some members of my church were Democrats. I have since learned that the way I felt was rooted in untruths and stereotypes, and I no longer judge people for their party choices. However, sometimes it is hard for me when people have so much loyalty to a political party and leader, that they have a hard time seeing the whole truth and thus treat others unfairly. It makes me sad more than anything.
Do you refuse to listen to the stances of members of the other party, assuming their stances are wrong or wicked?
When I was still a Republican, I would listen if someone wanted to educate me, but sometimes I would be afraid to gain understanding because I was afraid of change. Change means you have to acknowledge you were wrong. Change means you have to abandon a part of your previous identity. I now realize that change is good if it leads you to think critically and love more compassionately.
Do you make fun of concerns voiced by members of the other party, assuming they are ridiculous and exaggerated?
I am not one to make fun of other people and I try not to dismiss other people’s concerns, though I am not perfect at that.
Do you automatically oppose something just because the other party came up with it, even if it’s reasonable, popular, or helpful to Americans?
I don’t think I ever did that. I have always tried to see good where there is good. When I was growing up, I was taught incorrect/incomplete information about some initiatives, so that did affect some of my political stances when I was young, but I didn’t automatically assume everything coming from the other party was bad.
Have you ever let political differences hurt your relationships with family members? Have you ever valued your political loyalties more than the people you love who align differently than you?
I hate that this question even needs to be asked, but I have heard of so many families in the last few years being torn apart because of politics. I would never want politics to drive a wedge between me or anyone I love. This has actually happened to me, though, but I did not want it to happen, and it breaks my heart that it did.
The Othered
Do you find yourself dehumanizing groups of people that are treated unequally by your party in order to justify that treatment?
I believe all people are beloved in the sight of God and nobody is better than anyone else. I never purposely dehumanized anyone, but because of my religion’s stance on marriage before gay marriage was legal, I felt like I had to stand for traditional marriage. I knew that hurt some of my friends, but I felt like I had to put my beliefs first. I have since apologized for that and made amends with my friends who I hurt.
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**Please note these are just my personal experiences. In no way by my answers am I making a negative judgment on anybody’s choice of political parties. I have found goodness as well as corruption in both major parties’ leadership, and it can shift over time.
You can see that I had a few troubling partisan inclinations when I belonged to a political party. I am not a member of a party now, and I do try to be as non-partisan as possible, but I do still have to check myself to make sure I don’t have unfair biases or prejudices. There are some methods that help me (and that I hope can help others) be more principled, fair, compassionate, and open-minded in this very polarized political environment. Here is what I came up with.
Voting
Be open to voting for people in all parties. The country and its interests are better met with a plethora of viewpoints and experiences. Do your research. Vote for people who truly desire to serve all Americans, who are honest, kind, humble, knowledgeable, and have integrity. Vote for those who will uphold our democracy and ensure that all Americans have the rights they are entitled to in the Constitution. Vote for those who will work across the aisle in a spirit of bipartisanship. These are the people who will serve we the people and not just themselves. To help me determine this, I look at candidate websites, social media profiles, as well as articles about them.
Do your research on all initiatives on your ballot so you can make an informed decision.
Try not to be a one-issue voter. There are so many issues that are incredibly important to the well-being of our nation and our foreign allies. If there is an issue that is very important to you, research it fully. Not everything is as black and white as it seems.
News/Information
Read and watch a variety of news sources, especially ones that are more centered in their reporting. This means that they provide all the facts, as well as provide quotes and perspectives from all sides without telling people how to believe or react. Keep in mind that just because a news source is critical of your party sometimes, it doesn’t mean they are radical or untrustworthy. It means they are reporting on what they think is important for the world to know, political bias aside. I highly recommend Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart to help you choose your news sources. Make sure to read entire articles, not just the headlines as well, because they can lead you astray without all the details.
Always be skeptical of what you hear, read, or watch until you hear, read, or watch the same details in multiple news stories. If something sounds off, it very well may be. Many politicians value self-preservation and self-image above honesty, and highly biased media would rather twist the truth and withhold important facts than make the party and party leaders they align with look bad. Do your research, fact check, and once again, look to reliable sources for truth. With the rise of AI, there will be more and more doctored photos and videos, as well as bots posting comments online to sow division. Be careful what you post online; make sure it’s factually true and not hateful.
If there are political topics that upset you, and you just can’t for the life of you see how anyone could think differently, do the research. Recognize and resist propaganda. Acknowledge that most people are reasonable, not extreme. Do not allow people who hate certain groups and their viewpoints to be the authority on what those groups think or believe. Rather, to help you understand other viewpoints, talk directly to people who think and feel differently. Have respectful conversations. Listen to learn. Realize that not everything is black and white, cut and dried. You may not change your position, but you might. Either way, you can be at peace with your newly well-rounded viewpoint.
Social Media
Be nice. Be careful what you share. Fact check before sharing information. Don’t mindlessly share political memes—these are often filled with falsehoods, unfair judgments, oversimplistic thoughts lacking context, and sometimes flat-out cruelty. Write about what you believe and what you feel, but do so in a respectful and heartfelt manner, always making sure you are sharing the truth. Anger is fine, but fine-tune that anger to bring awareness and positive change. Never post anything that dehumanizes people. Yelling at people and calling names will not get your point across, but respectful discourse just might. If you must unfollow or block people, think carefully before doing so. It may be necessary, but more often than not there is more that unites you than divides you.
Your Side
Recognize that there is no supreme political party and do not put your party’s political leaders on a pedestal. Choose to hold them to the same standards to which you would hold anyone else. Do not be afraid to speak up if they do or say something you know is wrong. Your loyalty is not to that leader or to your party, but to the principles of democracy, the upholding of the Constitution, and the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for all American people.
It can definitely be hard to publicly (or even privately) disagree with your party leaders. You voted for them! You are a part of the same party! There are a few things that can help with that.
- Ask yourself if a leader from the other party did or said the exact same thing, would you be okay with it? If not, you know it’s also not okay if your party leader does or says it.
- Take a step back and remove the political circumstance from the equation. Ask yourself if in general words and behaviors like that are okay. For example, is jumping to conclusions without the facts good or bad? Is calling someone names good or bad? Is threatening people good or bad? Is breaking the law good or bad? Is lying about something good or bad? Is making excuses for your bad behavior and refusing to apologize good or bad? You get the idea.
Finally, remember that political leaders often lie for their own benefit, so fact check rather than blindly believing them.
The Other Side
Love your neighbor, and that includes everyone. Remember that first and foremost, we are fellow human beings and we all need friendship, support, fairness, and our needs met. Our political parties do not define us. They are merely one hat of many that we wear, and we can all find common ground. Keeping all this in mind will help you be more kind and respectful in your online discourse too.
To help yourself get out of the habit of villainizing the other side and opposing everything they come up with, you must first recognize that all parties have stances and policies that can bring much good as well as stances and policies that can bring much harm if not put forth in the right way. Perhaps when a leader or member of the other party does something that is generally seen as a good thing by others, you can ask yourself if your elected leader did it, would you think it was a good thing. If so, then it would be good no matter who did it. Then choose to compliment leaders and members of different political parties when they do/say something inspiring and when they work across the aisle in a spirit of bipartisanship. Do not let yourself ignore the good that the other party does. When you acknowledge the good, you will be more likely to be open to other stances and opinions too.
Please keep in mind that it is not partisan to call out corruption when there is real corruption. So, just because people of the other party are decrying something your party is doing, it doesn’t mean they are politically motivated or on a witch hunt. This can happen, but it is often not the case. There are benevolent people who stand up for truth all the time, regardless of party, and technically, we should all be that way.
The Othered
Think about groups of people whose feelings, experiences, and struggles you let yourself minimize or disregard because of your party’s sociopolitical stances and policies. Then you can do a few things to change your heart as needed:
- Ask yourself how you would feel if political leaders treated you as less worthy of human rights because of their misconceptions and prejudices about who you are.
- Ask yourself if your viewpoint would change if someone you love was negatively affected by stances and policies that target their human rights.
- Listen and learn from people that are being dehumanized. Consider their safety and well-being. Choose to see them as human beings worthy of respect and dignity. Choose not to gaslight their experiences.
Look past your own personal interests in politics. Even if something doesn’t apply to you directly, please consider how a policy, law, etc. could negatively affect other Americans, especially those who have historically been oppressed and marginalized. Always remember that just because something doesn’t affect you right now, it could affect you or a loved one later. Advocate for those who need support— whose voices are not valued. We are all in this together and should be our “brother’s keeper.”
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You may be reading this and are thinking, “I stay out of politics. I prefer to be neutral.” I was like this for a long time. I was a part of a political party, but I didn’t really keep up with what was going on like I should, and I rarely expressed my opinion except for rare occasions. I get it. But, allow me to share with you an analogy I saw on Instagram the other day:
A woman was slowly pushing a bottle of black paint to the edge of a table. She said that there are three choices a person watching can make in response to her actions: 1. Help her push the bottle off faster; 2. Push the bottle the other way so it doesn’t fall; or 3. Don’t do anything and watch the bottle eventually fall off the table. Now, let’s say that the bottle being pushed represents the oppression of a group of people. Perhaps you don’t agree with the people that are causing the oppression, but you don’t want to get into it because you don’t want to offend anyone who supports it. Well, just like in the bottle example, if you do nothing, the result is that the people continue to be oppressed, which is the exact same result as choosing to contribute to that oppression. At the end of the video, the woman said that doing nothing helps the oppressor, not the oppressed. That stuck with me. I hope it makes an impression on you too. To help you get inspired to help, consider if you were part of a group being oppressed. What would you want others to do for you? Then do that as you are able.
Now, we all have different comfort levels. I am not super comfortable calling my representatives and don’t have a ton of time to write them personalized letters. But what I feel I can do is keep up with what is happening in the country and speak out about it in a respectful, factual way that highlights the need for change and compassion. Everyone can use their individual strengths to look past partisan interests and fight for the greater good of this wonderful land.
I truly believe that each individual can make a difference in this world. There are forces at work using falsehoods, stereotypes, anger, and fear to turn us against each other, but we are stronger, safer, and better off together, united in purpose. I know that I can’t fix everything, and I can’t stop all the hurt going on in our nation and around the world. But I can make a difference with the voice God gave me. And I am going to continue to do that. Will you join me?
