Policy Brief No.206: The US in 2024: An Election That Worked and a Democracy That Doesn't

Image: Map created by Ali Zifan and Inqvisitor/wikicommons

This policy brief examines the divisive, hyper-polarized, us-or-them way politics is viewed in the United States.  One test of a democracy is whether or not the voters get to choose their leaders. While, at this most basic level, the 2024 US presidential election was a success, it's easy to understand why both sides view contemporary politics as a battle that they absolutely, positively, must win. The only way out of this highly destructive confrontation is some kind of compromise that, more than elections, is the cornerstone of the democratic ideal. This policy brief concludes with three principles upon which such a compromise could be built.