Is Partisanship good for Democracy?

In politics, a partisan is a committed member of a political party. In multi-party systems, the term is widely understood to carry a negative connotation, usually referring to those who wholly support their party's policies and are perhaps even reluctant to acknowledge correctness on the part of their political opponents in almost any situation. In recent years, the term bipartisanship has been used by many in American politics. During the 2008 presidential elections, both Senators John McCain and Barack Obama tried to lay claim to the label by emphasizing their ability to work across the aisle. And, after Barack Obama won the presidency, he appointed Republicans to several high-profile positions. However, many people criticize his claims of bipartisanship because he failed to consult in a meaningful way with Republicans in Congress on significant policy issues, such as health care reform. In the meantime, although both the Republican and Democratic leadership have repeatedly emphasized their bipartisan credentials, members of Congress have voted with their parties about ninety percent of the time in recent Congresses. The members of Congress view of their representational role as trustees, delegates, or politicos as influential to how they make policy decisions. Legislators can also take into account several other factors, including political party, constituents, colleagues and caucuses, staff and support agencies, and interest groups, lobbyists, and political action committees. When a bill is non-ideological or one on which a member has no real position, staff members may be the greatest influence on how a member of Congress votes. Then again, bipartisanship may not always be a good thing. For example, when Tom DeLay announced his retirement as House majority leader, he said, “You show me a nation without partisanship, and I’ll show you a tyranny. For all its faults, it is partisanship, based on core principles, that clarifies our debates, that prevents one party from straying too far from the mainstream, and that constantly refreshes our politics with new ideas and new leaders.”

If there is a case to be made for partisanship, it's that voters deserve a clear choice. Partisanship protects democracy, produces stronger policies, and reflects the will of the people. Those who may argue against partisanship may believe partisanship is undemocratic, that it results in a political gridlock, and that it does not reflect the will of the people. Partisan politics is often blamed for the messes in Washington. Each election may bring a new set of candidates makes its campaign promise to work with the other side, to reach across the aisle and to get something done. The problem with partisan politics, as it is perceived is that nothing will get done while both sides disagree and stand firmly on their platform.