Party On!

How political parties shape American political discussion 

Political parties depend on ambitious office-seekers for their continued existence...and those office-seekers are dependent on parties to win their races. This alliance creates an echo chamber of messaging that can lead to extreme party positions, but by using these party platforms to amplify their voice, candidates can better attract the attention of voters. 

John Aldrich, in his book Why Parties, argues that parties are constructed to primarily benefit politicians, specifically ambitious office-seeking individuals. These political actors use parties to their advantage, using these institutions to avoid many collective action issues. The “brands” that parties create––stances on policy issues, current events, and legislative decisions–– help make voting decisions for their constituents easier. Rather than having to go out and research on their own time, voters can have all the Democrat or Republican beliefs wrapped up in a nice little box, tied with a bow. These consistent brands also help differentiate parties from one another, making elections easier for less attentive voters. 

The debate over public school opening in the fall is an example. Democratic Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi stated in an interview with MSNBC on July 13 that, “Without the resources, we shouldn't even be thinking about sending [students] back to school.” Many Democrats and education advocates have insisted that without a proper safety precaution plan and increased federal funding, public schools will be too unsafe to reopen in the fall. But President Donald Trump disagrees. He believes the arguments regarding opening school back up are not actually based on concerns about health but are used for scoring political points. “They think it’s going to be good for them politically, so they keep the schools closed. No way. So we’re very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools…” By establishing party messages, politicians attempt to sway voters by differentiating their platforms and simplifying issues for the average voter. 

Differentiate Message

Donald Trump’s concerns about schools staying closed for “political reasons” are ironically his own motivations too. Reopening schools would show a display of political strength, encourage parents to return to the workforce, thereby flooding the economy with more money, and may raise his approval ratings with white, suburban families. On the other hand, Joe Biden, as an ambitious office seeker must differentiate himself by showing strong support for CDC’s guidelines concerning public school reopening. When asked for a statement on Biden’s position, a campaign official stated that Joe Biden is in support of schools returning in the fall, “But we need to ensure we can do it safely, in line with the recommendations of public health experts, and Trump keeps failing us on that score.” By differentiating himself from Trump on this and many other topics, Biden hopes to provide voters with another option––a viable alternative that is also backed by a powerful political party. 

Simplify Complexity

The whole issue is just not that simple. Democrats are spot-on that reopening schools in the fall is going to require comprehensive protective procedures and large amounts of federal funding, but concerns regarding food security, child abuse, and mental health make the situation much more complex than at first glance. Congress Republicans providing only $13 billion of the $200 billion requested by education advocacy groups, means that, if schools reopen in the fall, they will be severely underfunded and understaffed, risking the spread of coronavirus to students, teachers, and their families. Aldrich asserts that politicians use political parties and their platforms to achieve election through “broad-based support, wherever and from whomever it may be found.” Rather than trying to explain the complicated, frustrating, often confusing truth of political issues, ambitious office-seekers can attract the necessary broad-based support by sticking with the, potentially vague, party message and simplifying these complex situations. 

By emphasizing differences and proposing simplified answers to complex challenges, politicians attempt to use party platforms to seek election and reelection. “Elections are paramount,” says Aldrich, “...Parties formulate policies to win elections rather than winning elections to promulgate policies.” Due to the enormous advantage party messages provide office-seeking candidates, party structures are certain to endure. In other words, this American institution is sure to...party on!