Government has never been a byword for efficiency. But in recent decades, what was once a snail’s pace has slowed to a complete standstill. This September a brutal fight over the budget, the product of an attempt by a group of Republicans to defund Planned Parenthood, almost resulted in the second government shutdown in two years. But this political polarization has not only affected our representatives. It has also spread into greater society.

According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center¹, conservatives and liberals don’t just have distinguishable voting patterns; they increasingly lead separate lives. The study revealed that even the most liberal Republicans are more conservative than the most conservative Democrats and vice versa. Animosity towards the other side of the political spectrum is also a divisive factor. 27% of Democrats and 36% of Republicans view the other party as a threat to America’s well-being.

This divide is ultimately corrosive to our nation’s health. Bipartisan support for any type of legislation has declined significantly; anti-human trafficking bills are getting stalled as a result of attached partisan amendments. This is no way to run a country. Americans need to learn that compromise is a sign of strength, not of weakness. Politics is not a game for those who adhere blindly to their unchanging positions So please, compromise with someone today, and notify your representatives of your displeasure when they refuse to reach out across the aisle. Our nation won’t last long without it.

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Poll can be found online at http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/12/political-polarization-in-the-american-public/