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Evan McMullin: Political polarization is a danger washing over our nation

Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin speaks at a rally in Draper, Friday, Oct 21, 2016 (Alex Gallivan/Special to the Tribune)

Over the summer, while sitting for an interview on a cable news network, the anchor prefaced her first question to me by saying, “I know you’ve evolved.” Her statement surprised me. Had I evolved?

My commitment to equality, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness was unchanged. My preference for federalism, free enterprise, fiscal responsibility, prudent American leadership in the world, pluralism, the rule of law, decency in our leaders and compassionate care for vulnerable communities was also unwavering.

Her remark stuck with me, though, and I’ve since realized that I actually have changed in one important way over the past two years: More than before, I now recognize the urgent need to find common ground and seek sensible compromise between factions to counter the dangerous wave of political polarization currently washing over the nation.

Yes, President Trump’s devotion to adversaries in Moscow, disregard for truth, the rule of law and decency combined with blindly loyal Republican leaders’ control of Congress are causes for great concern. However, Pew Research data show not just one leader or one party drifting towards its fringes, but both of them.

Predictably, this divergence and the dysfunction it causes has fueled frustration among the parties’ reliable voters, driving them to more radical leaders who stoke their anger and further divide us for their own advantage.

In the short-term, it’s a destructive cycle that prevents us from dealing with modern challenges like cyberwarfare, technology-induced job displacement, reckless levels of national debt, aging infrastructure, a changing climate, health care and our antiquated educational system. In the long-term, it threatens to destabilize the nation.

Self-serving leaders and commentators would have us believe that our political rivals are irreconcilable enemies, but they are wrong. As human beings and as Americans, we still have much more in common than in difference. We must look beyond the snake oil they sell to see again the good in each other.

Even as radical elements on the far-right and far-left are ascendant, there remain Republicans, Democrats, third-party members and independents — men and women of character and goodwill — who seek to unite rather than divide and to persuade rather than coerce.

In fact, there is a tradition of such leadership in Utah, especially among a rising generation of leaders.

One example is Republican Rep. John Curtis. In just 10 months of service, he’s worked with Democrats to advance bills to improve broadband access to rural communities and lending to small businesses so that more Utahns and Americans can share in our growing economy.

Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, a Democrat, is another. Working with Republicans, McAdams has maintained a balanced budget and curbed homelessness, while earning a reputation as a unifier and someone who can find common ground between opposing sides on challenging issues.

Eric Eliason, a successful entrepreneur and business professor now running for Congress on the United Utah Party ticket in Utah’s 1st district, is taking on the monumental task of campaigning with a unifying reform message despite the tremendous systematic challenges he faces as a third-party candidate.

We should rally behind such leaders with whom we have significant common ground, regardless of party, if they are capable of working with their rivals in order to advance effective solutions for Utah and the nation, while countering divisive extremes.

If they are willing to uphold the principles and institutions that protect our freedom and advance policies based on truth rather than fear and anger, then let us give them the strength to do so however we can in good conscience.

An “evolution” in our own positions is not required, just renewed recognition that we share this land with 325 million other Americans and sincere desire to put country over party for our own good and for the general welfare of the nation.

High atop the U.S. Capitol dome sits the Statue of Freedom on a cast iron pedestal encircled by the Latin phrase “E Pluribus Unum,” meaning “Out of many, one,” a motto that described the unification of the American colonies struggling for survival nearly 250 years ago. Today, it remains a vital reminder of what we are, and who we must be.

Evan McMullin

Evan McMullin is a former CIA operations officer, policy director for the House Republican Conference and independent candidate for president in 2016. He is the co-founder and executive director of Stand Up Republic.