America's Potluck

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, 80% of American adults believe the nation is greatly divided. This problem feels familiar — we hear about division and polarization every day. But that isn’t the whole story. According to More in Common, 66% of Americans believe we can learn a lot from interacting with people with differing viewpoints. Moreover, 70% of us believe we have the responsibility to do so. And Americans aren’t just interested in talking with people who think differently; we want to act together to solve problems. More in Common’s research found that Americans are “most interested in connecting across difference to work together to achieve a shared goal.” The most cited barrier to connecting across differences is a lack of opportunity. Most Americans feel responsibility to engage in pluralism — to respect, relate, and cooperate for the common good. The challenge isn’t that we are divided; it is that many Americans don’t know how or where to interact with people who think differently than they do.