The upcoming presidential election has caused an increase of controversy within the public; extreme polarization within American society threatens the solidarity of the nation by highlighting the rivalry between political parties.
Political polarization is defined as a conflict between major social groups and political systems; this division emphasizes the rivalry between political parties, which only encourages further controversy.
The U.S. political system has entered a new era of corruption, where division is implemented into the nation’s values. Political alienation is changing the discourse of our democratic society, as it restricts the representation of political ideologies to prioritize the Democratic and Republican parties.
Political polarization has obstructed the development of personal beliefs, as countless Americans base their opinions on one-sided news sources. Both ends of the political spectrum feel superior, and portray their opinions as the facts.
The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump is a prime example of how political polarization is impacting the structure of our nation.
On July 13, 2024, a shooting occurred at Trump’s rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, which left several people injured and one dead. Despite being the target of the attack, Trump was only shot once in the ear. The injury caused severe bleeding initially, but ultimately required minimal treatment.
Trump blames the Democratic party for the attack, and overtly claims that criticism in the media is what incited the violence.
Countless left-leaning sources claimed that the Republican party was over-exaggerating in terms of the magnitude of the attack. Many believed that Trump was not shot, but rather hit by shrapnel from a camera that was shot.
New information was released to the public in the midst of the conflict. An article for AP News reported that the FBI confirmed that Trump was shot in the ear.
The Democratic party displayed intense polarization in denying the extent of his injury, as well as forming opinions on the basis of no real evidence.
Another example of polarization occurred after the 2020 presidential election, when Trump demanded a recount of the votes.
On Jan. 6, 2021, Congress held a session inside the Capitol to certify the results of the 2020 election. During the meeting, Trump held a rally close by, protesting the outcome with thousands of supporters by his side.
NPR has a complete transcript of Trump’s speech from that day. “All of us here today do not want to see our election victory stolen by emboldened radical-left Democrats, which is what they’re doing,” Trump said. “We didn’t lose.”
It wasn’t long before a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol; they raided the building with the intention to ruin election results. The attack caused about $1.5 million in damages, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The storming of the Capitol building changed the discourse of American society; thousands of Americans simultaneously defied the concept of democracy as they attempted to reverse a democratic process.
The issue of extreme polarization in America has caused members of the public to shy away from the true ideals of the nation, all to promote personal beliefs and certain political ideologies.
