This Political Season, Americans Need To Chill Out
Are you voting for the presidential candidate known in some circles as Comrade Kamala? For her opponent who is allegedly simultaneously channeling Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini? For Chase Oliver or another third party candidate? Or maybe you’ve had enough with low-payoff gestures and you’re taking a pass on the political drama as a nonvoter.
In any case, you’re likely trying to making the best of a situation in which candidates vie to be less unpopular and options are more than a little unpalatable. There’s also a good chance that, despite your sincere efforts to choose the least-bad option, you’ve received a ration of shit from true believers who insist voting differently than them makes you just evil. Unfortunately, many people let politics taint their lives in weird ways and damage relationships. In truth, a lot of Americans need to chill the fuck out.
The spreading poison of political hatred is clearly affecting the way people interact—or if they interact.
Relationships Shattered Over Disagreements
“28% of Americans say they find it either very stressful (9%) or somewhat stressful (19%) to spend time with friends or family members who don’t share their political views,” according to a September Yahoo News/YouGov poll. “Some 26% of Democrats and 30% of Harris voters say they have had a friendship or family relationship end because of a disagreement over politics; 24% of Republicans and 24% of Trump voters also say they had ended a relationship over politics.”
I haven’t ended relationships over political views, but I have been cut off by old college friends because I don’t share their knee-jerk loyalty to the “correct” candidates and causes. I do understand how stressful this can all be. On the way to dinner, a friend in the shotgun seat of my car recently shouted objections every time he saw political signs with which he disagreed. There were a lot of signs.
My good deed for the week was not kicking him out the door while the vehicle was in motion.
Workplaces have been poisoned by political feuds, too. A survey earlier this year by the Society for Human Resource Management found “20% of employees said they had been mistreated at work by their co-workers or peers due to their political views.” A third of respondents say they expect things to get worse with the approach of the November election.
The problem seems to be getting worse. While 28 percent of workers of all ages told Indeed/Harris pollsters they might resign their jobs over political differences at work, “nearly 40% of workers aged 18-34 would leave a job because of political differences at work, and 40% of this same age range would also leave if their CEO expressed political views they disagreed with.”
G
Article from Latest
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
