Double Standards and Democratic Process

"It's the old Potomac two-step, Jack."
--President Bennett (Clear and Present Danger)

These pages have discussed the 19th century work of Auberon Herbert and his theory that division between the two dominant political factions will escalate as stakes from winner-take-all democratic processes increase.

Would think one indicator of this escalation is increased use of double standards by the warring factions. Each side practices behavior that is condemned when done by the other side.

We're talking about hypocrisy, of course. And, indeed, we're seeing it in spades as political stakes increase.