CHOICES: PICK YOUR TEAM, COMMIT FOR LIFE
Party loyalty in a world of misinformation
I want to talk to you about blind partisanship, and how facts aren't really playing a part in deciding party loyalty nowadays. Before all that, I’d like to ask you a question first, and we’ll revisit the answer at the end of my column.
According to reports, one set of states restricts absentee voting and others are free and easy. Here are two sample states:
STATE 1: Absentee Voting Rules (in order to vote by absentee ballot, you must be:)
Absent from your county or, if a resident of largest city, absent from city, on Election Day.
Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or
disability (temporary illness includes being unable to appear due to risk of
contracting or spreading a communicable disease like COVID-19).Unable to appear because you are the primary care giver of one or more
individuals who are ill or physically disabled.A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after
conviction for an offense other than a felony.
State 2: Absentee Voting Rules (in order to vote by absentee ballot, you must be:)
Be at least 65 years of age.
Be sick or disabled.
Be out of county when an election is taking place, as well as absent during the period where early voting is allowed.
Be expected to give birth within 3 weeks before or after election day
Be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.
In which state do you think your political team is in charge? I’ll tell you at bottom of this column. Now let’s talk about partisanship.
THE PARTISAN DIVIDE
The Common Bridge was established to provide a fiercely nonpartisan place where perhaps many would find the courage to exit the polarized extremes. I was asked in an interview today if there was progress.
An emphatic, “some,” which then led to a discussion.
Partisanship is a Team Sport
The vitriol from the Republicans and the Democrats has steadily increased. The easiest way to shirk responsibility for lack of policy solutions is to simply blame the other. The attacks have become a sophisticated machine. Both parties are giddy for power so that they can investigate the other. Their partisans are impatient for the desired outcome of seeing their opponents indicted, disgraced and imprisoned. It matters not if justice is done, but whether the right “team” wins. Because, you see, if a certain person(s) is not indicted, we have lost our democracy and the rule of law means nothing.
And a team sport it is. The media alignment has become so pronounced it’s comical. Talking heads, “news” reporters and analysts routinely prostitute themselves by talking the party lines. The motivation must be greed, because even stupidity and ignorance could not produce such laughable (and predictable) commentary. I suppose living in a world where everyone repeats the same opinions could make a person think they are wise. Or maybe a combination of greed and living in an echo chamber. Whatever, it isn’t news or measured analysis.
Can’t have a team without fans, and certainly our polarized politics is divided this way too. The players (voters) on Team Blue get to attack players (voters) on Team Red as subhuman and idiotic. And vice-versa, Team Red attacks the Team Blue. Don’t believe me? Try this: at your next gathering with those on your team, bring up something that the other team supports. Then say, “they may have a point.” You risk not being invited next time, but your former friends will have someone and something to talk about next time they get together.
Team members must be identifiable. So, with a straight face, claim certain demographics as part of one team or the other. All the good and noble people of a particular ancestral identity belong to your team, while the other team gets the useless dregs. Which of course is another good reason to indict, jail and eventually prosecute them.
No team would be complete without a publicity department, so it’s important to claim certain social media and electronic communication for your side. When your team is in power, help guide the Big Tech companies to understand what disinformation, misinformation and truth are. Call it responsibility or fact-checking or something like that.
The Tempting Results of Partisanship
Sharp, crisp divisions into warring factions crushes dissent. One cannot be a loyal member of Team A if one is willing to engage with Team B. There is the downside of opening the door to corruption as the only voices to hold a team accountable come from “the other.” But the good news is that your chosen team can operate impervious to any legal or moral boundary. That might be bad for you, but you have backed the winning team.
Those pesky institutions, like the court system, law enforcement and governmental checks-and-balances can be denigrated to suit one’s team. If “the other” brings up legislation, just caption it as something awful and feed it to your aligned media. Don’t like the outcome of a high-profile trial? Disparage the jurors who heard all the testimony and were instructed in the law so your conviction by media will stand.
Partisanship is easier for most people. Instead of spending time to understand actual policy or hold elected people accountable for results, just simply pick a team. The menu of the preferred brand of reporting outlets will reinforce the “don’t bother me with the facts. . . my mind is made up” mindset that is essential to blind partisanship.
How’s that Working for You?
The exit from unresponsive governing, irresponsible reporting and societal divides is right in front of us. Insist on better governance. Write to your representatives. Read legislation. Access experts. Turn off the agenda-driven “news” that is only there to inflame you.
And the single most important thing is to get involved in dialog. We can’t build a common bridge without finding our commonality and that must come from conversation. In my answer to the question about progress, I note that most feedback I receive is sent privately, often with an expression of “I’d like to say this publicly, but I am afraid.” I understand that because if one is building a career or family, they may find every post or comment they have ever made on social media scrutinized.
While the incentives to lay low and not raise one’s voice are real, we will never get off this crazy train until enough turn their back on the partisanship and manipulation.
ANSWER TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION ON STATE ABSENTEE VOTING RULES
STATE 1 is the New York Absentee Voting Rules
Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City absent from the five boroughs, on Election Day.
Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability (temporary illness includes being unable to appear due to risk of contracting or spreading a communicable disease like COVID-19).
Unable to appear because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony.
STATE 2 is the Texas Absentee Voting Rules
Be at least 65 years of age.
Be sick or disabled.
Be out of county when an election is taking place, as well as absent during the period where early voting is allowed.
Be expected to give birth within 3 weeks before or after election day
Be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.
Is the real partisan divide as sharp as our reporting wants us to believe?