Political Extremism and Rancor Are Undermining American Democracy
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/by/frank-bruni. "Opinion | Big Swells of Rancor Are Capsizing America - The New York Times." May 28, 2026. www.nytimes.com
The Gist
The authors argue that America's political system is broken because angry, extreme voters dominate primary elections while most people don't participate. This leads to terrible candidates winning who care more about ideology than actually governing well.
Conclusion
America's political system is being damaged by waves of rancor and extremism that elevate unqualified or morally compromised candidates over competent moderates
Premises
- Primary elections are dominated by extreme elements of each party, with only 8% of registered voters participating in Texas primaries
- Both parties are choosing ideological purity over moral decency and political extremism over moderation
- Ken Paxton's victory over John Cornyn demonstrates how Trump loyalty trumps experience and competence in Republican politics
- Internet-era candidates like Spencer Pratt are surfing 'big swells of rancor' rather than offering substantive policy solutions
- The current electoral system empowers committed party insiders while giving the broader electorate less meaningful input
- This dynamic produces nominees who are resistant to compromise, bad at consensus, and unrepresentative of most Americans
Assumptions
- Low primary turnout leads to more extreme candidates being selected
- Compromise and consensus-building are essential for effective governance
- Most Americans prefer moderate candidates over extremists
- The current primary system is fundamentally flawed for modern democracy
- Political experience and competence should matter more than ideological purity