What is a cross cutting issue

All party systems characterized by a given issue/idea
1930s - gov't has to get involved to help alleviate the suffering of normal Americans
- these issues cleave the political system as to where the parties stand on these issues
- When there is a new issue cleavage, the dominant party only wants to talk about that issue
o Minor party doesn't change the topic because the party leaders want to stay in charge of their party and don't want to be viewed as avoiding the issues, or other party members will say "I can deal with it better"
- If a new issues come up, dominant party will ignore it to keep focus on the issues that benefit them
o The more you ignore an issue, demand aggregates in the electorate demanding the political leaders to deal with the issue
• Third party may develop to force leaders to deal with issues
• Dixiecrats in 1940s - anti immigration party
o In the 1850s and 1860s, the wigs didn't want to deal with the abolitionist movement because it would split the party
• Republicans emerge and displace the wigs
- Cross cutting issue can take groups from one side and move them to other side
- Sets stage for realignment
- It takes for one party to be on one side and the other on the other side to be a cross-cutting issue