The high rates of political division in this country cannot be overstated. Republicans are pitted against Democrats and Democrats are pitted against Republicans.

In recent years, polls have shown that Americans are now more likely to see folks who disagree with them as their enemy. Likewise, some lawmakers like GOP Rep. Marjorie Greene have called for divisive and un-American endeavors, like a "national divorce."

At some point, this country has to turn down the heat and learn how to get along. This applies to people who don't agree on every issue or vote for the same party.

To help make this happen, Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox and Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis are joining forces.

Bringing Americans together

Cox and Polis are both leaders within the National Governors Association and now stress the need for Americans to partake in "healthy disagreements."

This means not assuming that individuals on the "other side" are stupid, unaware, or behaving with malicious intent. The governors of Utah and Colorado underscored this in videos put out by the National Governors Association and during an interview with CNN host Dana Bash.

https://youtu.be/Ltm0wb9lFAY

Both Cox and Polis also stressed that disagreement, on its own, does not constitute a problem.

In fact, as they noted, America's Founding Fathers maintained plenty of disagreements. What ultimately matters, however, is the way in which people disagree with one another, especially when discussing politics.

Political disagreements can happen in ways that are healthy and constructive, rather than combative and malicious.

America needs more of this

All things considered, the United States needs more leaders who are willing to advocate for unity and healthy disagreements. Already, there are enough leaders on both sides of the aisle that have fed into anger, division, and otherizing folks with political differences.

https://youtu.be/xEp84rcZQAI

"United we stand, divided we fall" very much applies to America today. The ability to hold healthy disagreements with others will not only help US society as a whole. It will also prove valuable to Americans on an individual level.

We all need more talk of healthy disagreements and less talk of a national divorce.