Andrew Meyer
Opinions Reporter
After what felt like a century long waiting period between November third and seventh, Joe Biden has officially been projected to be the 46th president of the United States.
Regardless of your personal feelings on the current president, I’m sure most would be able to agree that over the past few years in particular, the political divide in America has grown to such an extreme extent. It has reached the point where people often find themselves unable to speak with, be friends with, or even associate with someone who may support a certain candidate or a certain set of ideals.
In his victory speech on Saturday, President-elect Joe Biden promised to “unite” the country once again, mentioning his commonly used slogan regarding restoring the “soul” of America. Biden argues that his decades of experience in public service working with members of both sides of the political spectrum will enable him to bridge the divide and bring people together to accomplish common goals.
But as each side appears to be adopting increasingly bold positions, is it possible to unite the country? Is bipartisanship what we should be truly striving for? Or is this idealistic bipartisan environment simply unattainable in today’s political and social climates?
“I think bipartisanship should always be on the table,” says South senior Charlie Weinstein. “But under the current climate, I don’t believe that true unity and bipartisanship are possible. We have to find common ground about basic things that we have lost track of. I think it will take a long time to become unified, but it is possible.”
Weinstein presents a valid point. It is reasonable to point out that in order to move forward as a country, we must first come together to find common ground. However, many would argue that this common ground simply isn’t there, particularly when it comes to certain human rights issues.
For instance, after the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and several other innocent Black Americans, the discussion on policing quickly arrived at the forefront of American politics. But according to a poll released in September by the UMASS Lowell Center for Public Opinion, almost half of those surveyed believe that Black Americans are treated equally in this country by police.
How can we as a country come together to accomplish common goals if we can’t even agree on some of the issues facing our country today?
“I don’t necessarily think that bipartisanship or unity should be the goal but they’re things that we should strive for. But when both parties are just so torn apart and hold drastically different political views including different outcomes, I am unsure how or even if bipartisanship can even be a part of the process at that point,” argues South senior Jada Pierre.
“I think bipartisanship and compromise should never become the default. Sometimes one side is right and the other is just wrong,” adds Weinstein.
Speaking for myself, I have grown up believing that bipartisanship and national “unity” are what will ultimately accomplish real change. But the more I think about it, the more I believe a truly successful America does not include bipartisanship, at least in the way it is framed now. I personally believe that one of the biggest reasons why progress feels so slow is because we’ve been assured that once we can all come together, we can work towards a brighter future.
On the other hand, abandoning bipartisanship altogether may result in more damage and greater setback for this country. “I think if we continue to push forward as a divided country, we cannot accomplish solid change. I think we can arrive at a temporary solution for larger issues but unless we work together, I don’t think we can provide the right solutions to dismantling oppressive systems and making things more equitable,” says Pierre.
Who really knows if true, successful bipartisanship and national unity are attainable. However, with a new administration, hopefully these ideals will no longer appear as a distant fantasy.
