Deep Dive
Why are Americans becoming more politically polarized?
Polarization is driven by both policy disagreements and affective dislike, with partisanship becoming a social identity linked to racial, religious, and cultural identities.
Why do some people think school boards should be partisan?
Proponents argue transparency and predictability, believing party affiliation would clarify candidates' stances on various issues, including education and taxpayer spending.
Why is Governor Ron DeSantis pushing for partisan school boards in Florida?
DeSantis aims to align local school boards with his education agenda, particularly the parental rights movement, and has endorsed and funded candidates who support his policies.
What are the potential risks of making school boards partisan?
The shift could lead to more partisan and less policy-focused elections, where voters base decisions on party affiliation rather than candidates' actual positions on education issues.
What does the polling data suggest about Floridians' support for partisan school boards?
Recent polls show about 40% support, well short of the 60% needed for passage, with 30% undecided, indicating a small chance of the measure passing.
How does affective polarization differ from traditional polarization?
Affective polarization is based on feelings of dislike and distrust between parties, not just policy disagreements, making it easier to dehumanize opponents.
What role do social identities play in political polarization?
Social identities like race, religion, and culture have aligned with party identities, making electoral outcomes feel like victories or losses for broader social groups, increasing animosity.
Why do some Americans dehumanize members of the opposing party?
Dehumanization occurs when people perceive the other party as fundamentally different and threatening across multiple dimensions, making it easier to vilify them as evil or subhuman.
What can be done to reduce political polarization in the U.S.?
Reinstating broken norms of acceptable behavior in politics and society, and collectively enforcing these norms through community standards and shame, could help reduce polarization.
- Johns Hopkins University started asking Americans if they think people who vote for the other party are evil or less than human.
- Dehumanizing attitudes are often present before mass violence events, making this trend concerning.
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