We live in a society in which your political orientation is a determining factor of who you are as a person and your views of the world. Over the years, the definitions of what it meant to be a Democrat or a Republican have changed, and the difference between the two has become more evident than ever. Polarization in the American government has intensified, more so after the last election. In the discussion of Overcoming Polarization in the American Democracy, it was shown that Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals, have always been a key element of political elections, yet they never seemed to be polar opposites. I learned how, on a global scale, Democrats can be compared to the Liberal Democrats of Britain or the Labour Party of Britain. The American Republicans can be placed between the Conservative Party (Canada) or the Freedom Party (Austria) and the Alternative for Germany. An interesting aspect that can be inferred from these international comparisons is that American Democrats are very close to the center/moderate line separating the concepts of “liberals” versus “conservatives.” The Republicans, however, fall much farther to the right, which portrays a certain form of extremism in conservative values and perspectives within the party, compared to the rest of the world.

One major takeaway from this event was the idea that, in order to overcome this polarization within American society, communication must be enforced. Effective communication amongst members of two different parties or simply opposing political views should learn how to come together and talk about their opinions while respecting their counterparts. Listening to the two sides of the coin, or the two opposing opinions will allow the person to create an unbiased opinion about current events or controversial issues. Listening to others while remaining open-minded is key to achieving unity.

In conclusion, always communicate the thoughts and issues you are passionate about while listening and remaining respectful of others. And, most importantly, if you want your beliefs to be represented in the government, go out and vote!