Partisanship for Profit

Partisanship is overwhelming our democracy. It is warping our politics, amplifying the power of special interests, damaging our country’s reputation, distracting us from our real competition overseas, dividing us into rival factions, and creating gridlock so that the people’s work does not get done.

John Adams once wrote, "There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.”

Adams understood that partisanship was and would continue to be the biggest threat to America’s short term success and long term survival. So why would anyone want to exacerbate partisanship? Surprisingly there are number of people, industries, and organizations that profit from partisanship. 

The most obvious example is the media. The media loves partisanship and consistently tries to intensify it.  Television stations need viewers, radio talk shows need listeners, and newspapers and magazines need readers.  The best way to increase ratings and subscriptions is by making news entertaining. And the easiest way to make it entertaining is by making it sensational. “If it bleeds, it leads,” is the editors’ guideline. 

Therefore, stories of crime, passion, and conflict are highlighted.  Conflict in politics is a cash cow for the media. And they try to intensify it in many ways. Television programs do segments in which two partisans debate each other and offer their opposing viewpoints.  By the end of these ridiculous segments in which no one learned anything and no one is persuaded the debates usually descend into outright arguments. This does nothing to help inform viewers, but it does entertain them and thus it usually increases ratings. 

In recent years reporters, anchors, and talk show hosts have taken noticed and have done the unthinkable. Just a few years ago it was unethical and wrong for a journalist to make themselves the news. But people like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and Keith Olbermann have realized that it increases their popularity. 

When Rush Limbaugh says he wants President Obama to fail or Glenn Beck says President Obama is a racist they become the news. Other outlets report it, repeatedly discuss it, and give them free media which in turn increases their ratings and profits.  They profit from partisanship. They have nothing but incentive to make ridiculous accusations, exacerbate conflict, and increase partisanship.  Attacking their political opponents is their lifeblood. 

The same goes for the political parties. A few decades ago when the Republicans were the permanent minority they realized that bipartisanship was not politically expedient.  In order to win power, people like Newt Gingrich argued, Republicans must be an “alternative party” offering opposing positions. But to do that they first had to distinguish themselves from the Democrats. 

Wedge issues became a common tactic to divide voters along partisan lines. Over the past two decades partisanship has steadily increased. Both parties have come to understand voter enthusiasm is the key to winning elections. If the parties can motivate party loyalists to go the polls then they will win.  And nothing motivates voters more than branding the other side as evil, stupid, and un-American. Partisanship is good for the parties, they profit – get votes for it. 

The most influential institutions in our democracy, the media and the political parties have every incentive to increase partisanship. Unfortunately, our political system was not constructed to manage extreme partisanship. The founding fathers like John Adams created a system with many choke points that made consensus, collaboration, and compromise essential. Excessive partisanship not only increases conflict, but it also causes political dysfunction.

Unfortunately, as Ronald Brownstein notes, “In a democracy the central role of politics is to resolve conflict, not exacerbate it.” Too bad the parties and the media don’t abide by it.

Other essays you may be interested in… 

Why is Sarah Palin so influential?

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American Politics: It’s just Political Theater and it’s Dangerous

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