Editorial: Policy vs. popularity contest

Illustration by Queshon Hancock

With election season on the rise, tensions are high and debates are on fire. We are constantly being fed new information and being put to the test of deciding where our morals lie in comparison to politicians. As time passes and we near election month, more and more respect among peers is lost. Taunts and incivility are the new normal when discussing politics. And when the two options for our future leaders tend to forget the importance of respect in relation to politics, everyone follows. We, the Ranger staff, believe that civility is of the utmost importance in this season of politics. 

In a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine, it came to the conclusion that political outcomes are heavily influenced by a voter’s personality and how they perceive the candidate’s personality. This raises the issue of whether we are genuinely voting on policies that will benefit our country or if we are simply participating in a widespread popularity contest.

Voters tend to lean towards the candidate who expresses traits most like themselves rather than fully studying and evaluating the policies these candidates are striving to put in place. Civility is important so that facts are spread in a calm and respectful way and are not just insults presented with a lack of information. A more respectful approach to politics is the best way to insure facts are being spread instead of exaggerated misinformation.

The term “facts over feelings” is always being thrown around when politics are in conversation, yet the idea of them coexisting with one another always seems to be overlooked. There seems to be an idea that information cannot be spread without hateful tones and insults being attached to it. In an article about the emotions connected to political evaluations by researcher Steven W. Webster, it is stated that anger has the power to weaken a persons’ commitment to democratic values, specifically their views on those they disagree with. Angry discussion leads to more disconnect among citizens and in this day and age, this division has never been so clear. America needs to find unity. While anger and fear are easy emotions to express during election season, fostering civility and kindness can pave the way for hope and positive change.

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