American politics seems to have become a predominant topic across the country and even worldwide more than ever, especially throughout the course of 2020. This includes the transformative social movement of the Black Lives Matter protests across cities; the environmental crisis of massive wildfires along the west coast; the economic crisis with a roughly 1 out of 3 people having lost their jobs since COVID-19 crashed the U.S. economy in the spring according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics; the permanent closure of 60% of small businesses according to Yelp Data; the complete restructuring of schools and any other public spaces; the 2020 election of president-elect Joe Biden and the first person of color and woman, Kamala Harris, to become vice president in U.S. history, and so much more. These key issues or events have become aware by people across the nation, each with entirely different beliefs and concerns. This deepening divide or polarization of America has developed this process of politicization over nearly anything, such as the wearing of masks during a global pandemic, developing the idea of having any form of relationship with someone of different political beliefs is nearly impossible to maintain. 

Moral Character

As someone who is an adolescent, I am entirely and consistently immersed in the culture of social media platforms where I have observed how political ideologies have become inseparably connected to morality. Personally, as someone who is strongly for the Democratic position on prevalent social issues, I find it difficult to comprehend for those who are not bothered or supportive of the numerous injustices occurring around the world. Republicans seem to have been the majority opposition population, which 87% of Republicans stirred the direction of the BLM movements with “All Lives Matter” from the Race and Policing in America survey and only 15% of Republicans wanting to take in refugees escaping from war and violence according to a 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center. The majority of both political parties are torn upon the long branch of social issues, having their own concepts of equality and degrees of morality in America. For me, having different views on the economy, such as tax plans, can be bearable whereas the failure of acknowledging basic human rights in the “land of the free” is absolutely unacceptable, losing something seen as the basis of any relationship: respect. 

The Trump Effect: The main source of this continuous intensification of political polarization in the U.S.A is by its own head of state, Donald Trump. He has deepened the divides in our nation more than ever and has polluted the entirety of the Republican party. Someone who supports Trump is endorsing the representation of misogyny, racism, homophobia, xenophobia, ignorance, and hatred that has become evident under his time as president. According to a Wakefield Research survey, 1 in every 5 American relationships or marriage has been noticed to have been impacted negatively by President Trump’s election. One’s political belief in supporting Trump is what divides relationships, which is almost entirely based on his moral issues while allowing him to run the country and making the decisions that will affect our children for decades. 

What is being prioritized?

Most relationships are grown from having a common ground or rather a basis of belief, sharing the same goals and ideas. Let’s take the topic of wearing masks as an example, which has become a statement of partisanship in the United States of America while during a global health pandemic, making it reasonable why our country suffers from the most deaths and cases of COVID-19 in the world. According to a 2020 Pew Research Survey, 46% of Republicans would consider COVID-19 a major threat to the U.S.A while 85% of Democrats would consider it a major threat to the country. Also according to the Pew Research Center, many Republicans express skepticism or oppose wearing a mask, claiming it was ineffective, unnecessary, or oppressive. An enormous divide on something that is a symbol of protection and consideration for others, something that is important in any relationship. 

Let’s also understand the general priorities of both political parties in 2020 from an assessment by The Washington Post. The Democrats’ five leading priorities are the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, racial inequality, foreign interference in U.S. elections, and economic inequality in the country. On the other hand, the Republicans’ five leading priorities are the development of China as a world power, international terrorism, large numbers of immigrants and refugees coming into the country, domestic violent extremism, and Iran’s nuclear program. Both with completely different concerns and ideas of threats to the U.S.A. as the Democrats seem to focus more on internal conflicts while the Republicans seem to focus on external conflicts. Relationships are not able to be maintained under this immense gap of a common ground with entirely different mindsets and goals. 

The United States of America is currently a nation of division on partisanship, which can be seen throughout all generations and across media platforms, having an impact on relationships. Both the Democratic and Republican parties have completely different stances on the prevalent social issues, the presidency of Donald Trump, and the priorities of our country. These elements of morality and shared goals are what relationships thrive on, which are important in laying the foundation of any commitment to another person. Having separate political affiliations is what drives our country more than ever, it is not only the difference of association in policies, but also one of opposing ethics and priority that shape family relationships, friendships, acquaintanceships, and romantic relationships.