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Publication Date: July 28th, 2025

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Apolitical does not mean indifferent. It means serving the public without picking a side. In Hudson, six words are often blurred: apolitical, non-political, bipartisan, non-partisan, partisan, ideologue. Knowing the difference is how small towns keep trust intact.

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Clearing up six easy-to-confuse words whose meanings shift across countries and shape public trust in Hudson & beyond.

Confusion about this word has surfaced in conversations and on local blogs more than once, so here is a clear perspective.

In small towns, words about politics blur. Six terms are often mixed up, yet they mean very different things:

• Apolitical: A stance of service. Civil servants who are apolitical do not cheer for one party or another. They care about efficiency and fairness because both serve the public best.
• Non-political: A description, not a position. A school concert or farmers’ market is non-political because it has nothing to do with policy or parties.
• Bipartisan: A handshake between two parties. A bipartisan law is crafted by Democrats and Republicans together, usually through compromise.
• Non-partisan: Engagement without allegiance. A non-partisan election or group participates in politics but avoids party labels.
• Partisan: Loyalty to one side. A partisan official or voter defends their party’s interests, often at the expense of compromise or wider public good.
• Ideologue: Devotion to a rigid set of beliefs. An ideologue may cross party lines but is unwilling to adjust principles even when evidence or public interest changes.

These distinctions are not minor. Public trust relies on them. Hudson Common Sense believes that at the level of local government, especially in a small city like Hudson, residents should aim to be apolitical in civic roles, share non-political common spaces, and support bipartisan priorities where possible. Partisan politics has its place, but it belongs in state and national contests, not in the daily running of a town hall or school board. Understanding the difference is the first step to making civic life work.

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Last edited/updated:

July 28th, 2025

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