Contraries and politics

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Without Contraries is no progression. Attraction and Repulsion, Reason and Energy, Love and Hate, are necessary to Human existence.

Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, 1790-3

Or, Human existence manifests contrariness? It has been experienced time and again the polarization of a population during political contests. I must admit I am puzzled by why and how this happens, except for a desire for a debate over the issues. The prevailing political system directs how many positions will be taken by the people, and how open the debate will be.

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