Yes, I’m venturing into the realm of “controversial issues”, just like I promised. Or at least as close as I’ll ever get to them. This Friday I’m looking at political parties, and whether or not they should be a part of our society, and the positive and negative effects on our lives. Strap on your desk-chair belts, and read on.

There are various political parties in function these days, but the two most common are, without a doubt, the Republican and Democratic parties. Each of these parties has their own followers, their own candidates, and, for the most part, their own set of beliefs/standards. This brings up the first real issue with these parties. The separation of the American people, at least on a political base.

The American people are split between these two groups. Although maybe not as defined a border as then, but isn’t this the same principle that started the Civil War? Two different groups constantly bickering, with one eventually separating itself from the other. Although we might not be as separated as back then, the way things are going, we might eventually get to the point where one group wants to separate itself from the other, and will it really be worth it? Let’s hope and pray that out future leaders will try to unify these groups to avoid a possible conflict.

Although that might be a rather large downside, there is also a large upside to the political parties. And, that my friends also deals with separation. Each group (like stated above) has its own set of beliefs and standards. For the most part, Democrats tend to believe in the theory of evolution, and they’re pro abortion; Republicans tend to believe in creation, and they’re anti-abortion (note the word “tend”). This is good, because, based on your beliefs/standards, you can easily figure who to vote for. Thus, although you may not consider yourself a “insert party here”, you can easily vote for the person who holds your beliefs.

Although they might be easy to pick, political parties still separate America in a way that few other things do. I don’t believe that we’ll have any one seceding soon, but I believe America should be a little more unified in their politics. Why political parties? Maybe I’ve been thinking about it lately, as I will be able to vote in the 2008 presidential elections. I’m going to have to go with undecided for now, however, due to the above arguments.

And, on a slightly less serious note, political parties aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, as they not actual “parties”.