Political Partisanship: The Inherent Unhappiness of Identifying with a Political Party

No matter which side you choose, if you identify as a political partisan, you will always be unhappy, anxious, and dissatisfied.

The American People are deeply divided, more so than at any time since the Civil War. There are many reasons for these divisions, none of which matter to political partisanship’s emotional effect on everyone who participates.

Most people have some opinion on the social problems we face as Americans and what role the government has in solving these problems. It’s one thing to form an opinion on a political issue, but it’s something else entirely to choose to identify with a political party.

Whenever we see social injustice, we naturally desire to see that injustice corrected. This desire informs many of our opinions on important political and social issues. Sometimes, the best solution to a political issue is advocated by Democrats, sometimes by Republicans. No political party has the best solution to every political issue.

Why Do People Become Political Partisans?

Political partisanship refers to the strong allegiance to one’s political party, often leading to…