Modern day politics is a red herring – one that transforms government into a deceptive theater show where voters play their parts as puppets.
The political system in the United States is founded on the two-party system, currently composed of the conservative Republican and the liberal Democratic parties with little room for minority parties and voter indecision. Both parties’ historical dominance in the nation has ingrained it, politically and socially, into the minds of the American people – loyalty to party is almost assumed.
That assumption was built upon the platforms both sides utilize to portray political alignment as an obvious choice of picking right vs. wrong, but it’s never that simple.
Each party presents their idealized and polished platforms as the ones to improve the nation, specifically pitting themselves against their opposite party. In doing so, the inherent competition bred by the political system has been very quickly reduced to who can get voters to their side the fastest, no matter the cost to political dignity.
The games the dominant parties play is dictated by the same playbook – whatever is controversial, hide it.
For example, the far-right agenda titled “Project 2025” was a shadow that followed Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and one that went consistently unacknowledged. Its schemes consisted of mass deregulation of reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare access and education.
Though explicitly ignored on his campaign trail, as much as half of Project 2025’s plans has come to fruition in just one year.
This would rightfully swing the pendulum that is the electorate the opposite way – to just another extreme.
Back in the 2024 election, former President Joe Biden was the assumed Democratic candidate to face Donald Trump, albeit for the second time.
Seemingly diminishing mental condition and a disastrous debate against Donald Trump were the final signifiers in a long history of Joe Biden’s age inhibiting his presidential ability.
Repeated refusal to drop out of the race split the Democratic Party down the middle – his eleventh-hour decision to drop out of the running cost the Democratic Party the White House, and potentially its voters.
Kamala Harris’ succession of the presidential bid also inherited Democratic ills. With former President Biden failing to step down at an appropriate time, not only did he leave his vice president in the dark but also shook his voters’ faith in the party.
Split by Joe Biden’s decision, or lack thereof, at least half of the Democratic Party remained complicit and in Biden’s corner during his extended tantrum that would prove to cost them the election – the electorate has little reason to trust either party.
President Trump’s quickness to endorse Project 2025 following his inauguration and Joe Biden’s tardiness to accept the end of his presidency goes to show how much a party is willing to hide to garner votes – what is mass appealing is voteable.
What the political system plays is downright deception but it works. People can be spoonfed any lie they really want to believe.
That awkward Thanksgiving dinner and spat between conservative grandparents and liberal cousins is just one example of a clash between extremes.
In a polarized nation that has split down the middle against the force of two extremes, the reality of the middle ground is seemingly disappearing.
To not bear any allegiance is apparently disloyal – in a country marked by its freedom of choice, it seems like the only suitable ones are the ones served.
If one’s conscience can’t choose between the lesser of two evils, adding to the cacophony of political controversy stirred by the political machine might only make it worse – making the choice to take a step back or away is a choice in and of itself.
