Having compatible views and opinions on how to live your lives is an important part of making a relationship work. After all, when you're always on the same page about your lives and the world around you, you don't have too much to argue about in the first place. But for most relationships, that's a lot to ask. With different backgrounds and different basic perspectives on the world, it doesn't often happen that a person's every opinion coincides with his or her partner's.

And in few places is this more dramatic than with politics. When you're on the left and she's on the right (or vice versa!) it can sometimes create a lot of strain between you. Some people believe that that bit of strain adds spice. Others think it's a sign that the relationship has little chance of working out. But what, really, is the truth? Will differences in your political opinions get in the way of your relationship?

Politics Polarize

In most relationships where each individual has a different political perspective, it's easy to see that politics can get in the way. Why? Because what a person believes politically has a lot to do with their personal and moral values. If somebody is on the conservative side politically, they may be there for religious or moral reasons, or just because their basic values match up with conservative opinions. And the same for the left.

The truth is, politics in and of themselves aren't important. But values are. And when your politics are simply a reflection of your values, having a partner with opposing feelings can cause a lot of fighting and frustration. There are even practical concerns to keep in mind. If, for instance, a pro-choice liberal marries a pro-life conservative, their differences in opinions may cause big problems when it comes to family planning.

In short, political differences can seem small and unimportant at the beginning of a relationship. But as time wears on, those differences can become bigger and bigger. And if you're not careful, they may even take over your relationship

Political Differences Add a Spark

Does all the doom and gloom above sound a little scary? Fortunately, there's also a positive side to political incompatibility. While having very different political points of view won't necessarily make things easier, it can make things a little more fun. After all, where's the fun in agreeing all the time?

In some couples, political polarization works for them rather than against them. It gives them something to debate and argue about that has nothing to do with their relationship. Because it's not personal --it's not about either of the individuals who are actually in the relationship-- politics can be a way to blow off steam without damaging your relationship or hurting each other.

And then there's the fun you'll have after the argument is over. When you're feeling hot and passionate at the end of a conversation, who knows where that might lead in the bedroom? A little extra passion is, after all, never a bad thing.

Keeping Politics from Getting in the Way

Unless you specify party affiliation requirements on your internet dating profile, you're not always going to end up with somebody with whom you see eye-to-eye. Fortunately, even if politics are more about your values than your political opinions, your differences in perspective don't have to break your relationship. To keep politics from becoming a problem it's important to remember to:

Take things lightly. If you find that your political conversation is getting a little too serious, look on the lighter side. Making a joke is the best way to break the tension. And to make political discussions fun rather than frustrating.

Respect their opinions. Listen to what the other person has to say, and be open minded about their perspective. Your opinion on the basic issue might not change, but that doesn't mean your partner might not have a few interesting ideas, too.

Don't try to change them. This is probably the most important of the three. Sharing political views with your partner isn't about trying to win them over to your side. Chances are, you're never going to be able to covert them, so don't even try. Instead, simply exchange ideas and listen to one another. It's the most you can ask for.