The Biggest Crisis for America
It’s not getting any better
What’s the biggest crisis confronting the United States of America today?
It’s not any one person. It’s all of us. It’s that we would rather criticize, mock, deride, find fault with, and even hate each other than humble ourselves, love one another, and work together.
Political disagreements aren’t just debates — they’re battle lines. Friends part ways, family members stop speaking, and coworkers avoid conversations altogether, fearing they’ll say the “wrong” thing.
Our country, once a place where compromise was seen as the bedrock of governance, now seems to view it as betrayal. And the result? A fractured, deeply polarized society where listening is rare, understanding is rarer, and humility? Pffft. What’s that!?
It’s easy to point fingers at politicians — after all, many of them treat governing like a reality show, playing to their most vocal supporters rather than tackling the actual problems at hand. But the truth is…
This isn’t just about our politicians or political parties. This is not a Republican issue or Democrat issue.
It’s an American issue.
It’s a human issue.
And unless we course-correct, I fear for the future of our country.
No One Has All the Answers
For as much passion as we all bring to political debates, there’s one truth we often forget: No single person fully understands all the issues — not the president, not Congress, not the Supreme Court, not the pundits on television, and certainly not you or me.
The problems we face — whatever they may be — are often very complicated. They demand wisdom, patience, and a willingness to learn.
And yet, instead of seeking understanding, we double down within our tribes, dismissing anyone who thinks differently as either ignorant or evil.
This is dangerous.
I know not all of you share my faith, but King Solomon knew a thing or two about politics. In fact, he knew a lot about a lot of stuff. Widely regarded for his immense wisdom (and with good reason — according to the Bible, he got his wisdom as a gift from God!), Solomon used an interesting phrase three times in the Book of Proverbs.
That phrase?
“in the multitude of counselors there is safety”
Why? Because wisdom isn’t found in an echo chamber.
Wisdom comes from hearing different perspectives, weighing arguments, and making informed decisions.
But in today’s political climate, working with those who see the world differently isn’t just discouraged — it’s punished.
Political and Social Suicide
Once upon a time (as in before the Internet and especially before social media), elected officials could work across the aisle more freely without being labeled traitors. Sure, there was criticism. And some extremists who might call them that or worse. But…
As a general rule, politicians could get away with working across the aisle on multiple issues. It was necessary if you wanted to get things done in Washington.
The fact that I have to use the phrase “get away with” is frustrating. Working together is what they are supposed to do!
Well, those days are pretty much gone. Today, reaching out to the other side is practically political suicide.
Cooperation is seen as weakness and disagreement can lead to widespread condemnation from activists and influencers as well as exile from one’s own party.
The result of all this? Stalemates. Gridlock. Dysfunction.
And deeper polarization and hatred.
Of course, it’s not just our elected officials.
It’s us.
People are condemning and unfriending each other on social media.
Lifelong friendships have been severed over political disagreements. Family members no longer sit at the same Thanksgiving table.
We have reached a point where ideological purity tests determine who is worth talking to and who must be cast out.
This isn’t just unfortunate — it’s unsustainable.
The Reality of a Diverse Nation
Like most of you, I have my beliefs. Some of them are deeply held, and I won’t compromise on them (at least not for myself or my family). But here’s the thing: If we’re going to live in a country of 340 million people, we cannot expect everyone to think exactly alike.
A functioning society requires cooperation, respect, and — yes — compromise.
Something else too.
In a democratic society (yes, I know the United States is technically a constitutional republic, but I use the words “democracy” and “democratic” broadly)…
You have to be willing to lose. Yes, you have to be willing to lose and not resort to hatred and violence when you do.
If not, there’s lawlessness.
Well, in this day and age, it seems no one is willing to lose — on anything!
No one is willing to compromise.
None of this is to say we should abandon our principles. It doesn’t mean we stop fighting for what we believe in. But it does mean recognizing that we all have to share this country, and that means working together.
It means submitting to the laws of the land, operating within the system of government we have, and listening — really listening — to each other. It means valuing humility over stubbornness.
Unfortunately, humility is in short supply these days.
Limited Government
One reform that will help take off the pressure is to politically and legally allow for diversity within our great country.
If we try to force nationalized, totalizing agendas on everyone, allowing for little dissent or deviation, we raise the temperature and (to mix metaphors) the volcanic pressure.
There’s something to be said for the classic conservative principle of limited government (certainly at the national level) and greater latitude being extended to states and localities.
There was a time in American history when the occupant of the White House didn’t matter that much to average U.S. citizens. Same with the U.S. Supreme Court. Most Americans cared more about their local government than what was happening in faraway Washington, DC.
Maybe we need to move back toward those days.
Before I’m misunderstood…
I’m not suggesting that people’s basic civil rights be tossed up for grabs.
There are basic human and constitutional rights that should be accorded to everyone living under the American flag. The national government needs to be strong enough to enforce those guaranteees.
But there has to be more flexibility extended to different communities and parts of the country. For example, let the states differ on policies regarding gun regulation, school choice, social spending, and so forth.
Yet in allowing for this diversity, we must remember we’re all Americans. (I’m appealing to my fellow Americans here).
Some disagreements may be such that we have to have some boundaries or a little distance between us, but they shouldn’t lead us to hate each other. Maybe we can’t be best buds, but we don’t need to be enemies either.
I’m not suggesting this alone will fix our problems, but it sure would ease tensions.
Necessary Personal Choices
Ultimately, addressing this comes down to each individual. This is a heart crisis — dare I say, a spiritual crisis. We need our communities of faith to help us through this. They can start by striving to stay above the ugliness of the political fray rather than pig-wrestling in the mud.
But looking at this as individuals…what can we do? Well, here are a few things:
- Listen more, speak less
- Recognize we don’t know everything
- Understand that the issues we often argue about are often complex, requiring patience, humility, and wisdom
- Don’t automatically believe everything you read or hear
- Recognize that today’s “news” sources are almost all businesses appealing to specific constituencies and audiences, selectively picking, framing, and spinning their coverage accordingly
- Don’t put your emotions in the driver’s seat
- Choose to love, not hate
A Future at Risk
If we don’t do something — if instead we continue down the spiral of hatred and deep polarization — where disagreement means enmity, where cooperation means betrayal, where tribalism replaces community — our nation will die.
I love this country. I believe in what it stands for. But we are dangerously close to losing sight of what has made America strong: our ability to come together, despite our differences, to work through our challenges within the rule of law and our system of government, and find a way forward.
We need to do better.
Before it’s too late.
Thank you for reading!
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