Is that really so bad, that the parties spend their time arguing? While it would be nice if they came to a consensus all the time, how realistic is that? The two parties have very different beliefs on how to govern, and I think the fighting that goes on is a natural result of that.

And is it really any different here in the U.S as opposed to different democracies? Or is it really any different now than in this country a hundred years ago?

I think politics in a democracy has always been a messy business. Maybe we are just more aware of it now thanks to CNN and the Internet.

>There has been something distasteful about American Politics at the Federal level during the last 11 years. I will not discuss the State level at this time.
>
>Rather than representing the interests and well-being of American citizens, it seems like the two major political parties spend the majority of time and effort arguing. Somehow all of this seems more like a historical battle between religions. People are allowing themselves to be led by religious fever rather than rational thought. Us against them seems to be the mentality and path we have taken. It extends to international policy. Our nation is divided. Some people love it and others do not.
>
>We are a nation of paradox, conflict and rebellion. Separation of Church and State. In God we trust. What can you expect from a nation consisting of the misfits of the world? Immigrants came here because they did not agree with social acceptability – they wanted things on his/her own terms. Move to the United States - land of the "free".
>
>Those immigrants who came here did so because they did not agree with what was occurring in the country they lived in. I would suggest this is the reason we as a nation have many points of view. There is good and there is bad. Some people cannot tell one from the other. The majority rules - sometimes. In the end it is the Federal Courts that rule our nation.