Podcast: What if I can’t vote in person?

It’s no secret that partisanship is more intense than at any other time in recent history. And these intense political feelings don’t just play themselves out through gridlock in Congress. The threats of political violence have increased dramatically. Politics seeps into the workplace, resulting in coarse relations with colleagues (and, according to research, reduced productivity). And polls show that we’re just not “hanging out” with friends like we used to.

This makes it even more important to celebrate the discovery of examples of collaboration and strategies for improving our collective national character. One recent event revealed such examples. The nonprofit group Business for America recently held an event in Washington D.C., “Across the Aisle: How Leaders Find Common Ground in a Divided Era.” The event featured elected officials and staff discussing the recurring factors in finding common ground in partisan times.