...of our new world of partisan absolutism and political polarization is that people no longer feel it is possible to vote against a candidate of their political philosophy that they disapprove of and for one of a different ideology who they feel is more acceptable. Whether you like it or not, when you vote for a candidate you get everything the most extreme elements of his or her "base" wants.

Although both sides of the political spectrum must accept some responsibility for this abysmal state of affairs, in my opinion, the major blame for this situation must be placed on the doctrinaire intransigence of one side only.