It’s no secret that in the United States (and in democracies around the world), there is a large amount of political frustration. People are angry about the state of politics in their country: issues such as democratic backsliding, biased media, and distant politicians seem to be never-ending, leaving many people feeling disillusioned with politics as a whole. This makes candidates who are similarly frustrated with the system more appealing, as their mindset is more relatable to voters. While people who follow this mold may be tempting choices on the ballot, in the long-run, they can be very dangerous to democracy.

When politicians employ anger as a political tool, it can create a slew of serious problems, the largest of which being the fact that anger inevitably gets pointed somewhere. This generalized anger tends to be directed at opposing parties. 

Those on the left and the right end up at each other’s throats. While this may be cathartic in the moment, it is far from healthy. Our democracy requires people on each side of the aisle to collaborate to create a government and pass effective legislation. In a nation of stratified, angry citizens, nothing can get done. Politicians who employ anger in their rhetoric make for a stagnant government which only ends up exacerbating political dissatisfaction.

However, this is not the only issue that arises. When people lean towards angry and emotive politicians, candidates can play the anger card as a way to get elected. Political figures should be somewhat charismatic, but if personality is prioritized over experience and professionalism, unqualified people will end up in positions of power. As dreary as it may be; it is much better to have a qualified but drab politician than an exciting and destructive one.

Political anger is very understandable in our modern world. Most social issues seem no closer to a resolution, while the rest are actively regressing. But just because citizens feel angry about these things does not mean that politicians should, as well. It is an annoying truth that our government benefits from slow, moderate change brought about by slow, moderate politics. The people we elect should not be full of self-righteous fury, as excessive political anger seldom results in forward motion.