--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In addition to the decline in…" description: "\"In addition to the decline in competition, American politics today is characterized by a growing ideological polarization between the two major politic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/thomas-e-mann-15401_american-politics_in-addition-to-the-decline-in-competitio_1247421.png" --- # In addition to the decline in competition, American… ![“In addition to the decline in competition, American politics today is characterized by a growing ideological polarization between the two major political parties.” quote by Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/thomas-e-mann-15401_american-politics_in-addition-to-the-decline-in-competitio_1247421.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/thomas-e-mann-15401_american-politics_in-addition-to-the-decline-in-competitio_1247421.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/thomas-e-mann-15401_american-politics_in-addition-to-the-decline-in-competitio_1247421.png) > “In addition to the decline in competition, American politics today is characterized by a growing ideological polarization between the two major political parties.” [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. American politics now features deepening partisan divides, reducing competition and cooperation between parties. **In simple terms:** U.S. politics are increasingly split between two parties. Key Takeaway Recognize and bridge partisan gaps. Themes politics polarization partisanship competition ideology Mood concerned analytical Type commentary analytical When to use this quote - elections - legislative negotiations - public discourse - media coverage Key Concepts social identity cognitive bias institutional incentives Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions encourage bipartisan collaboration? - What role does media play in deepening divides? A Different Perspective Polarization can also be driven by legitimate policy differences, not just competition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-politics/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Decline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decline/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing Ideological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-ideological-3917712/) [Ideological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideological/) [Ideological Polarization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideological-polarization-3917711/) [Major Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/major-political-606909/) [Polarization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polarization/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-parties/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [It is not white nationalism to believe that growing ideological uniformity in the commanding heights of culture makes American politics more polarized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/it-is-not-white-nationalism-to-believe-that-growing-ideological/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [Press critics worry that the rise of media polarization threatens the foundation of credible, common information that American politics needs to thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/press-critics-worry-that-the-rise-of-media-polarization-threatens-the/) [John Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/) > [It's not uncommon for revolutions to stem from a radicalized group just outside the circle of power. That's what the French Revolution was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/it-s-not-uncommon-for-revolutions-to-stem-from-a-radicalized-group/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [On domestic policy, one of the major stories in American politics has been the growing ideological and political self-confidence of the Democratic Party, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-beinart/on-domestic-policy-one-of-the-major-stories-in-american-politics-has/) [Peter Beinart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-beinart/) > [My major political identity has been as her spouse for the last decade and I like it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/my-major-political-identity-has-been-as-her-spouse-for-the-last/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I would like to think that we have made much more progress, that we've come much further, to have someone like a Donald Trump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-would-like-to-think-that-we-have-made-much-more-progress-that-we-ve/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [The major political event of the twentieth century is the death of socialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kristol/the-major-political-event-of-the-twentieth-century-is-the-death-of/) [Irving Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kristol/) > [There are three major political organizations in this country: the Republican Party, the Democratic Party and the Koch Brothers Party. With billions to spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/there-are-three-major-political-organizations-in-this-country-the/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If you know something damaging about a major political figure, then, in a democracy, it is surely your duty to tell the voters before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hitchens/if-you-know-something-damaging-about-a-major-political-figure-then-in/) [Peter Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hitchens/) > [Major political parties have a role, but they are incapable of initiating fundamental change because they are fundamentally tied to the status quo. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/major-political-parties-have-a-role-but-they-are-incapable-of/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Listening to evangelicals bridges major political fault line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/listening-to-evangelicals-bridges-major-political-fault-line/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We're not going to be living in a world where white identity politics is the basis for a major political party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/we-re-not-going-to-be-living-in-a-world-where-white-identity-politics/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) > [Running for office was definitely something I've thought about. When I was younger, I wanted to major in political science. And I've been engaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/running-for-office-was-definitely-something-i-ve-thought-about-when-i/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [At the heart of every major political upheaval lies a fiscal revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/at-the-heart-of-every-major-political-upheaval-lies-a-fiscal/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [Incumbency adds a layer of advantage on top of this party dominance. But rather than foster an environment in which members of Congress feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/incumbency-adds-a-layer-of-advantage-on-top-of-this-party-dominance/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) ## More by Thomas E. Mann > [Incumbency adds a layer of advantage on top of this party dominance. But rather than foster an environment in which members of Congress feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/incumbency-adds-a-layer-of-advantage-on-top-of-this-party-dominance/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [“Since the debt limit simply accommodates debt that has already been incurred, raising it should, in theory, be perfunctory. But politicians have found it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/since-the-debt-limit-simply-accommodates-debt-that-has-already-been/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [But presidential approval also became a surrogate measure of national unity and patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/but-presidential-approval-also-became-a-surrogate-measure-of-national/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [A human being tends to believe that the mood of the moment, be it troubled or blithe, peaceful or stormy, is the true, native,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/a-human-being-tends-to-believe-that-the-mood-of-the-moment-be-it/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [Votes in federal elections are cast and counted in a highly decentralized and variable fashion, with no uniform ballots and few national standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/votes-in-federal-elections-are-cast-and-counted-in-a-highly/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [“the limits amplified the corrosive effects of ambition on the legislators, who focused from day one on how best to use their limited time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/the-limits-amplified-the-corrosive-effects-of-ambition-on-the/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [Responsibility for overseeing the implementation of election law typically resides with partisan officials, many with public stakes in the election outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/responsibility-for-overseeing-the-implementation-of-election-law/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [Party and ideology routinely trump institutional interests and responsibilities. Regular order - the set of rules, norms and traditions designed to ensure a fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/party-and-ideology-routinely-trump-institutional-interests-and/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [Science never makes an advance until philosophy authorizes it to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/science-never-makes-an-advance-until-philosophy-authorizes-it-to-do-so/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [Further-more, partisan attachments powerfully shape political perceptions, beliefs and values, and incumbents enjoy advantages well beyond the way in which their districts are configured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/further-more-partisan-attachments-powerfully-shape-political/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [The public's evaluation of the job George W. Bush is doing as president changed dramatically as a result of the horrific attacks of September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/the-public-s-evaluation-of-the-job-george-w-bush-is-doing-as/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [The country has sorted itself ideologically into the two political parties, and those partisan attachments have hardened in recent years. It will take an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/the-country-has-sorted-itself-ideologically-into-the-two-political/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [All of this suggests that while citizens became more comfortable with President Bush after September 11 and thought him to have the requisite leadership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/all-of-this-suggests-that-while-citizens-became-more-comfortable-with/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [A healthy degree of party unity among Democrats and Republicans has deteriorated into bitter partisan warfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/a-healthy-degree-of-party-unity-among-democrats-and-republicans-has/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [I don't believe in a golden mean; I don't believe you find policy wisdom between two polar points. I don't dismiss that possibility, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/i-don-t-believe-in-a-golden-mean-i-don-t-believe-you-find-policy/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) [Explore all 43 Thomas E. Mann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) ## More American politics quotes > [Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has taken American politics by storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/republican-presidential-candidate-donald-trump-has-taken-american/) [Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/) > [Here's the point - and Jonah Goldberg reminds us of this. He wrote a blog post that was titled "The MacGuffinization of American Politics."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/here-s-the-point-and-jonah-goldberg-reminds-us-of-this-he-wrote-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Hart is still like that little tub of vaguely milklike gunk that comes with airline coffee. It is labeled a "nondairy" product. Fine: we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/hart-is-still-like-that-little-tub-of-vaguely-milklike-gunk-that/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [Would anyone else like to say anything nice about women?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/would-anyone-else-like-to-say-anything-nice-about-women/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [We are creating a political demolition derby, not a presidential debate. Those strange impulses in the American soul that have produced mud wrestling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/we-are-creating-a-political-demolition-derby-not-a-presidential/) [Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/) > [For even the most seasoned observers of American politics, Barack Obama is a phenomenon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/for-even-the-most-seasoned-observers-of-american-politics-barack/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [“The CIA is behind it all. That’s the conclusion of Mae Brussell—one of America’s foremost assassination experts—a researcher who has collected every pertinent newspaper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-brussell/the-cia-is-behind-it-all-that-s-the-conclusion-of-mae-brussell-one-of/) [Mae Brussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-brussell/) > [We picked their cotton. We cooked their food. We nursed their babies. Now we can run their cities. We can run their states. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-picked-their-cotton-we-cooked-their-food-we-nursed-their-babies/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [You know, compromise can't be a dirty word in American politics. There's plenty to argue about. Trump administration is still talking about ridiculous tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/you-know-compromise-can-t-be-a-dirty-word-in-american-politics-there/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [In his study of Atlanta over the last 60 years, Kevin Kruse convincingly describes the critical connections between race, Sun Belt suburbanization, the rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-carter/in-his-study-of-atlanta-over-the-last-60-years-kevin-kruse/) [Dan Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-carter/) > [Affirming belief that America is an exceptional nation has become a test of patriotism in American politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/affirming-belief-that-america-is-an-exceptional-nation-has-become-a/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [ \[Ronald\] Reagan had an agenda, three agenda items. George W. Bush had some. But \[Donald\] Trump, because people weren't listening, Trump has the longest… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/ronald-reagan-had-an-agenda-three-agenda-items-george-w-bush-had-some/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The good news is that the president gets another chance. The bad news is that he'll be two weeks older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-good-news-is-that-the-president-gets-another-chance-the-bad-news/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [You can never underestimate the ability of the Democrats to wet their finger and hold it in the wind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-can-never-underestimate-the-ability-of-the-democrats-to-wet-their/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 412 American politics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-politics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In addition to the decline in competition, American politics today is characterized by a growing ideological polarization between the two major political parties.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas E. 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