US Politics at the Crossroads of Disillusionment: Understanding America's Political Fatigue

Both the Democrats and the Republicans are displaying signs of growing intolerance, which could make it difficult to hold a free and fair election in the future.
Coupled with growing intolerance for diverse political views, fatigue over the electoral process could damage America’s reputation as a nation that upholds the rule of law and political decency.
A recent survey suggested that fewer than 40% of Americans would be excited to see either Biden or Trump run again.
A Pew survey revealed that an astounding 65 per cent of Americans acknowledged feeling worn out by the state of politics.

People of the US are growing weary of the way politics are going right now in their country. Both the major parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, are displaying signs of growing intolerance, which could make it more difficult to hold a free and fair election in the future and damage America’s reputation as a nation that upholds the rule of law and political decency.

A tangible fatigue engulfs the country as it barrels into yet another election season. Americans are growing more and more disenchanted with the status of American politics, which once served as a battlefield for ideals but is now a place of intolerance and division. An atmosphere of fear and anxiety permeates the country as the November 5 election looms large. The ramifications seem more severe and the stakes feel higher than ever, whether it’s Joe Biden or Donald Trump who wins.

With less than eight months to the election on November 5th, both Joe Biden and Donald Trump appear to be unsure of their prospects and seem to be dependent on the final people’s vote. If Biden prevails in the election despite his declining popularity and approval ratings, Republicans—especially those who identify as Trump’s MAGA supporters—may launch widespread protests that could spark a civil war. However, if Donald Trump wins, Democrats might do to the nation what the supporters of Hillary Clinton did in 2016: resort to turmoil, anarchy, and lawlessness.

A depressing image of the American mentality is presented by recent polls. According to a Monmouth University survey conducted in September 2023, fewer than 40% of Americans said they would be excited to see either Biden or Trump run again. Furthermore, a survey by the Pew Research Centre performed that same month revealed that an astounding 65 per cent of Americans acknowledged feeling worn out by the state of politics. Democrats are especially suffering from exhaustion since they are constantly faced with a plethora of political challenges.

By excluding views that do not align with the extremes, this trend—which has been developing since the 1980s and 1990s—erodes the foundation of democracy. Young Americans are especially divided when it comes to their ideology, courtesy of the divided and biased media houses that run across America, which tend to focus on biased analysis rather than focusing on reality.

People across various age groups in the USA have been very critical of President Biden’s abilities, as many believe that he is unfit for the Presidency and doesn’t possess the right traits necessary for a President. In recent times, we have seen how he struggles to remember the names of contemporary heads of state. Even the American Congress, which is a premier institution for the lawmakers of the country, consists of a majority of overage senators who are considered unfit to lead this important portfolio by many people.

With the national election in the USA approaching, it will be a bigger challenge for Americans in terms of the choices they make, as this will set the tone for political choices among Americans for decades to come.

_{(Aayush is a post-graduate student in International Relations at Kalinga University, Raipur. Views and opinions expressed are the author’s own)}