Beer soothes the upset soul.

Beer soothes the upset soul.

Further-more, partisan attachments powerfully shape political perceptions, beliefs and values, and incumbents enjoy advantages well beyond the way in which their districts are configured.

Redistricting is a deeply political process, with incumbents actively seeking to minimize the risk to themselves (via bipartisan gerrymanders) or to gain additional seats for their party (via partisan gerrymanders).

Presidents are elected not by direct popular vote but by 538 members of the Electoral College.

We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way.

In addition to the decline in competition, American politics today is characterized by a growing ideological polarization between the two major political parties.