Political freedom or autonomy is one of the most important features of a democratic society in which individuals have equal rights, freedom of speech, and the freedom to make choices. Politics in the United States, a democratic nation, is focused on two parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Democratic Party is more liberal and left-of-center, while the Republican Party is more conservative and right-of-center. Third parties, such as the Libertarian Party and the Green Party also are represented in American politics.

Rather than voting for a party, Americans vote for a specific candidate when voting on the national, state and local levels. The president is elected indirectly through the Electoral College, while members of Congress and offices in the state and local level are elected directly.

Whether you identify as a Republican, a Democrat or a third party, it is important to be respectful of the political views of others, as it is essential to the preservation of democracy in our country.

Under the first amendment, individuals have the right to free speech, which allows an individual to express his or her ideas without fear of government retaliation, government censorship, or societal sanction, which aids in the enforcement of societal norms. This right allows individuals to freely express which party they support, or in some cases, which candidate they support, as individuals are not always in support of a candidate just because of the party they belong to.

However, respecting the political opinions of others goes beyond an individual’s rights, it has to do with personal integrity and just being a good person. Judging someone based on which candidate they support is okay, as everyone has the right to formulate opinions based on what they know. However, allowing your judgement to shape your actions and the way you act towards someone is wrong and goes against the most important rule governing society – the golden rule.

Many supporters of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were bashed online for expressing their opinions about either candidate through social media platforms. There was even a case in which a Fairfax County student’s Trump sign was vandalized. Not only does this show poor judgement, but it also shows the inability to control actions and make good decisions. Tweeting rude things to supporters of the candidate you oppose and vandalizing signs in yards that go against your beliefs will not bring about changes in mindset and will not show the person on the receiving end that your viewpoint is better or makes more sense.

If you want to be a productive member of society that contributes ideas and allows ideas to grow, it is important that you first respect the opinions of others. Being overly-critical of someone’s opinions and even going as far as taking violent measures to express your dislike does not show the other person the benefits of your viewpoint and will not allow you or the person you’re being critical of to grow as a person in society.