Politician Syndrome: How Perceptions Affect Actions

Through all the years of American politics, there has not been a time in which the members of the political realm have been so closely scrutinized by the news organizations and the citizens to whom they serve as now. Political actions have penetrated the fabric of American existence like no time before. With the 24/7 availability of information and news on the Internet, and readily available headlines and stories on the cable news networks, the interest in the political realm has skyrocketed. The turmoil of the early part of this new century and the strong politics of the last administration began the push to get educated on politics, and the most recent election inspired further action through hope or dismay, and these strong emotions encouraged many to get involved and get educated about the workings of the political system. These same emotions have given Americans yet another criteria with which to judge the motives of others, and through this new system, the ways in which Americans interact has been changed for the foreseeable future.

Perhaps the best way to prove the current mindset would be a story. My father is a hard-nosed conservative Republican, and the last election had inspired him to fight against the new administration and its possible changes that it is pushing. Just the other day, we were out measuring windows on a job, and he had asked me to go get the book with the different styles of windows in it so the customer could see his options. In the short span of me leaving to get the book and coming back, I overheard the conversation about the healthcare plan that is currently in the Senate. From my understanding, the customer and one of his workers did not think the plan sounded so bad, which my father disagreed with. Though it was a friendly enough conversation, there was visible tension as the two sides exchanged views. I found it interesting that in the two or three minutes while I was gone, the conversation had gone from windows, to healthcare. About 2 years ago, I highly doubt this exchange would have even happened, especially leading from something completely unrelated.

This sort of story is becoming more and more prevalent as time goes on. Even in the earliest stage of the President’s administration, heated conversations can be heard anywhere, whether in a McDonald’s or various Internet message boards. Clearly, from the story with the windows, my father felt the need to inform and attempt to change the view of the contractors on the healthcare subject, but why? I believe that the motivation to inform or argue about a view is entirely from the perception or opinion of those who hold an opposite viewpoint of oneself.

In these times, political stance is basically a judgment of one’s character. From a left wing, or liberal, point of a view, conservatism is often looked down on as either backwards, heartless, or even as a failure. To a right wing conservative, a liberal is ignorant, socialist, or corrupt. Even to those who claim middle ground, the extremes of both sides are seen as zealots. These perceptions, or judgments, have been increasingly prevalent in the recent years. The news networks and various commentators from both sides have further ingrained these views into a willing public.

Since these views are now so common throughout the country, it has become harder to simply be content to make light conversation, or to have simple human interaction. These relationships have now become routes to tell one’s political views, a crusade of sorts, in order to further whatever view you happen to subscribe to. Every conversation is an opportunity to argue or change minds, or enlighten those ignorant to the ways of the world. This is the result of constant exposure to political ideas and debate. The need for change in government, the need to save American freedoms, the need to fix the recession and healthcare have all resulted in further polarization of the population of America.

It is difficult to have healthy human interaction with these views in place. There is obviously a need for a political system to run the government, and there is a need to fix some things in society, but there is no excuse to let someone’s political stance define their character. There are many good hearted liberals, and there are many corrupt conservatives. In the human equation, there is so much more besides black and white, but these perceptions have turned brother against brother and friend against friend. Relationships are possible, but if the subject of conversation is always about political happenings, and debate, then it is likely that the relationship will be strained at best.

Perceptions are extremely common in many areas beyond the political debate, and are as equally damaging to relationships. In the end, these relationships are what makes up a nation, and are the sole factor in the success of a nation. There is a need to be educated in the views and possible results of any given course of action, and the right to vote is a valuable tool in helping define what the country will become, but these should not get in the way of meaningful friendships or any other form of relationship. It is often hard to reign in the passion for a subject, but if it means a healthier relationship, it must be done.