Smyth: How we, the people, can fix divided nation

(W)e don’t have to play along. Citizens can take back responsibility for the tone and direction of our democracy.”

Joe Smyth is a retired journalist, CEO and the author of “Fixing America’s Broken Politics: Common Sense Solutions to the Issues That Divide Us.” He lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

America feels more divided than ever. But the truth is, the people aren’t as divided as the politicians are. Most of us want the same basic things — safety, opportunity, fairness and freedom. Yet we’ve been driven into hostile camps by a political system that rewards outrage instead of problem solving.

The two major political parties have been captured by their most extreme activists. The loudest voices dominate, and the rest of us are told to choose one side or the other — as if reason and moderation were weaknesses. The parties whip us into a frenzy in opposition to one another, aided by the 24-hour “news” channels and the endless scroll of social media, which profit from keeping us angry and afraid.

Meanwhile, the politicians in both parties lead us toward ever bigger but less effective government. They smother free enterprise and limit individual choice with endless programs, regulations, subsidies and mandates — and then claim they’re helping us. They increase spending and cut taxes — which gets them reelected but is a doomed combination that drives our nation deeper into record deficits and unsustainable debt.

Both parties are guilty, so don’t waste your time arguing about whether one party is more guilty than the other is.

What’s worse, they’ve learned that division is good politics. If they can keep us blaming each other, they hope we will never notice that they are the real problem.

But we don’t have to play along. Citizens can take back responsibility for the tone and direction of our democracy. Here are some simple ways you can start:

• Seek information from multiple, balanced sources — not just those that confirm your biases.
• Turn off the outrage machine. Don’t allow yourself to be radicalized by political echo chambers, such as cable news, partisan talk shows and social media outlets that thrive on anger.
• Talk calmly with people who see things differently. Don’t argue. Don’t walk away. Try to understand. Respect that people with different experiences will have different views. Disagree agreeably and look for areas of mutual agreement.
• Support civility in politics, in community life and in personal relationships. Real solutions start locally and face-to-face, where people actually know each other.
• Reject politicians in both parties who play the blame game. The nation has been damaged by each administration reversing the policies of the previous one, ever more recklessly. Insist that they work across political divides to find win-win solutions. Instead of their constant bickering, demand honesty, fiscal discipline and respect for freedom and the rule of law.
• Don’t feel you have to choose between the Democrats and Republicans. In fact, if you still reflexively support either party, you may be part of the problem. Just look at the candidates both parties have offered us in recent elections. Wouldn’t it be nice if, in future elections, we could choose to vote for the better of two good candidates, instead of having to vote against the worse of the two choices? For that to happen, both parties will have to change dramatically.
• Consider independence. More and more Americans are realizing that neither party deserves our blind loyalty. Consider alternative movements like Open Primaries, No Labels, the Forward Party and American Promise.

It’s time for citizens to stop hating one another. To stop being manipulated by self-serving politicians. To start leading. Our democracy won’t be saved by politicians or parties. It will be saved when Americans remember that we, the people, are in charge.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.