Non-Partisan

Dictionary Definition

Non-partisan means "not supporting one political party or group over another" and "free from party affiliation, bias, or designation."

The Problem

Politicians love slapping "non-partisan" on things that clearly help their side. They'll call a committee "non-partisan" when it's stacked with their allies, or label a bill "non-partisan" right before it gives their party an advantage. But they also do the opposite - they attack genuinely non-partisan institutions like the Congressional Budget Office, calling them "biased" when those organizations produce facts they don't like. The dictionary definition focuses on process - but what about results?

What It Really Means

Non-partisan means doing what's right for everyone — not just for one political party. It's about caring more about people and fairness than about "your team winning." Real non-partisan thinking asks: "Is this fair for everyone?" and "Does this actually help people?"

Why It Matters

When people only listen to one side, it's easy to ignore unfair rules or bad behavior. Being non-partisan helps us stay honest. It means looking at each situation and asking, "Is this fair for everyone?" That's how we protect democracy and help the people who need it most.

REAL Perspective

Project REAL wants to make a space where everyone who believes in truth and democracy feels welcome — no matter who they've voted for in the past. We care about ideas that solve problems and help people, not which party they come from.

Example

After a hurricane or wildfire, a non-partisan approach asks "How do we help people rebuild their lives?" But politicians sometimes play games with disaster funding based on whether the affected area voted for them. Real non-partisan thinking puts human need first - a family that lost their home needs help whether they live in a red state or blue state.