BOSTON — The results of the presidential election, so far, indicate that the nation is divided, with President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden each garnering around 50% of the popular vote total. But it’s not just the country that’s split: families and friends are finding their political differences are so great that maintaining relationships can be impossible.
Jerry Lewinter is like a lot of Americans. Politics is taboo when his family gets together. “My sister and I have diametrically opposed views politically. We’ve decided not to speak about politics because it becomes somewhat contentious.”
Lewinter said he’s never seen a situation like this and hears similar stories from his friends.
Gone are the days when political rivals like Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill could work out their differences with a handshake. This year’s presidential debates were evidence that we’ve now moved on to hand-to-hand combat. Washington D.C.'s toxic aura now permeates the country from sea to shining sea.
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One woman told Boston 25 News that she thinks “politics in this country has become a lot more polarized and it can create tension between people.”
The middle ground has pretty much disappeared. Consider the findings of a recent survey by the Public Religion Research Institute. After talking with 2,500 Americans, they found that 78% of Democrats believe the Republicans are racist. On the flip side, 81% of Republicans think that Democrats are socialists.
Another woman added, “It can definitely cause some disruptions in those relationships. It’s important to remember the importance of family, but also the importance of maintaining your own values.”
That’s the kind of calculation many people are now making.
"There are some individuals you may earnestly want to break your relationship with,” said Dr. Ellen Slawsby, a psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, “but there are others that you don’t.” "I would say stop, breathe, reflect and think about whether they’re important enough so that you can override your differences and continue a relationship moving forward.”
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