The Vitriol That Is American Politics

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American politics is often a spit-flying, vein-popping, blustery head. That head sometimes intrigues us with poignant, insightful, and witty debate. But other times it incites us with arrogant name-calling or sharply delivered quips. In our politics, supercilious condemnations are for the other side’s aggravation. And winning is just the beginning, but it is also an end, because after you win, you campaign again. 
 
Despite all the illusion and slight-of-hand involved, the American people are tasked with wading through the mire of our politics in order to pick our leaders. Within the swamp of politics are ideology, philosophy and practicalities that can potentially lead us to more prosperous days.
 
It is thus the duty of every democratic citizen to decipher the half-truths from the totality of the circumstances, the lies from the facts, the propaganda from the non-fiction. It can be stressful, and difficult.  
 
Needless to say, many won’t do their homework, so it is the obligation of advocates to zealously represent and sell the position of like-minded people running for office, regardless of whether there is agreement in everything. And, of course, it is the job of the candidates to present themselves in a manner conducive to electoral success.  That too can be stressful and is surely high-pressured.
 
Furthering this storm of anxiety and intensity, our politics are partially faith based, meaning we vote for someone because we believe he or she, the individual, will do a good job or their opponent(s) will do a bad job. Even in an ideological compromise, voting is, for many, an act of passion. And while for others it is an act of obligation, self-preservation, or just a step beyond apathy, we are all exposed to the advocates', candidates' and the media’s opinion parade.
 
These principals are steady throughout run-of-the-mill American presidential elections. So it shouldn’t be entirely surprising that this election cycle hasn’t left us yet. We just can’t seem to get rid of that bitter taste.  
 
Whether candidate, advocate, or average Joe, shots were fired and blows delivered. Friends were lost; regular working folks were asked to resign.
 
It is in many ways emblematic of our divided culture and the extremes to which our disagreements have taken us. It is not a bad thing that we air our grievances and vent our anger. But there is a line, and in some ways, we are already crossing it. How we respond is the question I pose to you, the reader.
 
Historical Perspective
 
Before we lose our minds and say its worse now than ever, let’s keep in mind that American politics has a long history of getting nasty. As far back as Jefferson vs. Adams our politics has been less than cordial. That race had folks calling Jefferson an infidel for allegedly wanting to let radicals into the country while Adams was characterized as a "hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman.”
 
Good to see people don’t change too much.
  
The 2016 Election Was Nastier Than Normal
 
But this election did feel different. Compared to the last couple election cycles, it was certainly nastier than normal. It was passionate and hard fought, but it was also hateful on both sides. It spilled over into the average person’s life. I wasn’t kidding earlier when I said people were losing friends over this election: one poll concluded 1 in 14 people had lost a friend over the 2016 election.  
 
Though it is polite to avoid politics at work or even, in some circumstances, with friends, it seems extreme to lose a friend or feel your job (unless your job is public sector political) is threatened because of political disagreements.
 
At the same time, we must recognize that the Republican-Democratic factions represent – albeit in a vast oversimplification - the great cultural divide. In the simplest, generalized terms, the Left sees bigger government, political correctness and the progressivism movement as the correct path forward, while the Right sees the free market, nationalism, two parent homes, jobs and a strong military as the yellow brick road. Of course that doesn’t mean the Left hates all aspects of free markets or two parent homes or jobs or veterans, just as it doesn’t mean the Right abhors all aspects of government, decency, or respect for others.
 
What it does mean, however, is that a Left-minded person and a Right-minded person are likely to disagree as to the priority of problems, whether something is a problem, how to solve these problems, the degree of urgency with which to address a problem, and what means justify what ends. In other words, it means a lot of disagreement related to passionate subjects.
 
The Left and Right Enraged By Agitating Events 
 
On top of the colliding ideological and cultural forces are several agitating events. Whether legitimate, overblown, conspiratorial, right, wrong, indifferent, or misleading, these events have proven fertile ground for the Left and the Right to grow their anger and distrust.
 
Even before this election cycle, The Donald was angering the Left by openly questioning whether Barack Obama was born on American soil. In doing so, he pushed for Obama to release his birth certificate.
 
Once the campaign got started, Trump continued to anger the Left with several comments many considered insensitive, including his comments concerning Mexicans and rape and crime , the leaked video of his lewd comments about women, and his call to "ban muslims" from entering the country.
 
Trump supporters, however, chose not to focus on the Left’s criticisms of Trump and instead focused on Trump’s policies, including his promise to protect and procure American jobs, his promise to decrease taxes and regulations on businesses, his promise to stop illegal immigration, his promise to defeat ISIS and terrorism, his promise to end unnecessary American interventionism, his promise to create peace through strength, and so on.
 
As to Trump’s lack of tact, Trump supporters said look at the totality of the circumstances. They retorted that Donald was not a racist, he was not a sexist, he was just talking without a filter; hell, Trump was making women managers and vice presidents before it was cool, they said. In the age of pushback against identity politics  and political correctness it was no surprise that this “let’s talk like its just me and you” style worked. 
 
Additionally, Hillary Clinton, Trump’s opponent, was under fire from the Right. Old scandals like Whitewater were drudged up again. Accusations that Bill Clinton was a rapist and Hillary bullied his victims were launched, as well as video of Hillary laughing about how she got a child rapist off without punishment when she was a criminal defense attorney.

The Right also attacked Hillary Clinton over the Wikileaks' dump of John Podesta's emails (her campaign manager) and the DNC. These emails left many screaming "corruption" and many said it showed that the DNC rigged the primary for Hillary over Bernie Sanders.

Furthermore, Hillary Clinton was under investigation or scrutiny for several acts: deleting emails after receiving a subpoena, maintaining a private email server and thereby subjecting confidential, government information to hacking and unauthorized accessibility, the Clinton Foundation's alleged pay-to-play scheme, covering up past wrongdoings, and possible campaign finance violations. 

Notwithstanding, just like the Right, the Left defended their champion. They pointed to Hillary's government experience, her tact, her political navigation skills, her progressive agenda, and the fact that she wasn't Donald Trump. 

It was hard fought. It was dirty. It was tiresome, exciting, exasperating. 
 
Hysteria Ensues After the Election
 
Enough build-up, this race had it all, including a surprising finish. Hillary Clinton was projected to be the easy winner. But come election night Trump was the victor with over 300 electoral votes secured.
 
In light of the ideological and cultural clashes and the nature of the campaign, this surprise loss sent the Left into hysterics. Crying, celebrities claiming they’ll leave the country, and, yes, even post Trump stress disorder.
 
Have a good cry and then move on? Nope, first the Left tried to convince the electoral college to vote against the voice of its people and put Hillary in the Oval Office even though she lost. 

The fun doesn't stop there. Democrats were calling for Trump's impeachment prior to the inauguration. And there were some saying Trump was not a legitimate president.  
 
No surprise that this has flowed into the streets: Trump supporters have been beaten – see some examples here, here, here and here.
 
Rioting has also broken out – exhibits here and here.  
 
Follow all of this with accusations by the Democrats that the Russians colluded with Trump to defeat Hillary. And follow that with “Obamagate”  where Trump has dubbed Obama Nixon 2.0 - meaner and more advanced (mom, this one has lasers!) 
           
It could give anyone fatigue. Unfortunately, for many, it seems we can’t escape it.  Politics has seeped its way into seemingly everything, including sports and entertainment.  
 
It’s a different kind of new normal.
 
Conclusion
 
The fact that politics can get nasty is not necessarily a bad thing. Elections are supposed to be adversarial. Competition brings out our best arguments and therefore the best ideas should prevail. We aren’t a perfect country, but having lived in America all my life, I have to say, for the most part, it’s working. We have a high quality of life with many freedoms and liberties. (Let’s not sugarcoat it, though, things could be better, too).
 
At the same time, our politics can get ugly.  We are passionate, but culturally and ideologically divided. As such, even when the fight is over, we are starting to see its not because the fight never ends as we gear up for the next one.  
 
The Left and the Right see each other as a threat to their ideal America. “Not only are we right, but they are immoral.”
 
Admittedly, as a person passionate about politics, I find myself getting mean. I don’t feel bad because I only do it if I feel it is necessary to advance a policy point I find important for the betterment of our people; still, me, you, all of us, need to keep in mind that there are people “on the other side” and we shouldn’t dehumanize them.
 
Despite all our differences, we should take time to remember how lucky we are to live in this great country. We should bond over sports and pets, our school pride and our loved ones. We should take note to remember we coexist, as faithful citizens, on this American soil.
 
Then we can go back to tell each other we’re wrong. 

Update on 3/31/2017 in order to add facts that plagued Hillary Clinton's campaign. 

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