Kickoff Topic: Historically, Democrats and Republicans have differentiated themselves by their contrasting views on the degree and manner inwhich government should impinge on individuallives. But as society has polarized it is now beingcontended that the two parties are differentiatednot by what they are for, but what they are against. That is, that partisanship is today simply negative rather than positive. What to make ofthis? Does the contention seem sound? If so,how did the negativity come about, and howeverthat was, is it healthy? If the contention is not sound, what are the contrasting positive partisan ideals today? We will discuss this and more.