I agree that it leads to a divide both philoshopical/ideological but can't one person be on an extrerme right on one issue and extreme left on the other? sounds kinds corny but it is. OK politicians are presented as a "package" but what about judges and lawyers? they don't run for any election, they are appointees and are to judge each case with an open mind so is it fair for them to choose sides even before hearing the facts of the case??