The United States is 249 years old today. Can the Americans find a common ground?

Just a few meters away from Washington’s monument, near a view of the White House, tourists from all over the United States gathered in the capital before the fourth July holiday.

The United States is 249 years old on Friday. But the feeling that the country is deeply broken – both on political issues and the distinguished values ​​of the nation – was spread among those who visited its capital.

“This country is based on the division, with two separate parties,” said Andrea Botista, from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Potista, who was in the capital to celebrate the national holiday and her last birthday, said that she feels that there is a simple room for the nuances in public discourse on American policy – and does not think that the Americans are sharing a coherent national identity.

“I can get very conservative ideas, but I also have very left ideas,” she said. “But the problem is that people do not see this in this way. People like to assume that you are on one side.”

A poll after a survey showed where the Americans were Trump presidencyFor his administration Immigration campaignWe have Ukraine supportAnd on minutiae from Huge spending bill Just passed by Congress, among other issues.

A polarized nation

Emily West, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Pittsburgh, said in an interview that she believes that there are some common reasons.

However, “I think the way our society is broken over time along these political divisions makes it difficult and difficult to be able to find that common ground.”

“For Trump’s first state,” West, who is looking at how the political identity in the United States affects democracy and polarization.

What is unclear is “the extent of Trump or the extent of this because we were already in this direction Over the past twenty years“It is possible that there will be some meeting of many factors, including both.”

Some Americans visiting the capital who spoke with CBC News said that no small consensus has been found across political lines.

For Sean Edwards, a resident of St. Louis is not satisfied with the current White House, the best he could do was “agree to the difference”.

Edwards said: “It is the way the country is currently operating – there is a gap,” Edwards said.

What brings the Americans together?

What – if there is anything – still brings the Americans together? a lot They are still worried About the economy, according to the economic confidence index in Gallup. Almost three quarters corresponds to the fact that the fresh faces are strongly required in Washington, for each NBC poll I was conducted in April that the 19682 poll is an adult at the national level. The error margin was +/- 2.2 percentage points.

For Luca Nitzel, a recent graduate of Kansas City, Mo. And that his work takes throughout the country, the ability to withstand costs is a great concern that seems to go beyond the political division.

“I think a lot of people now feel nervous about:” How does the future look like? How do the next five years look like if I could not even think about providing a house or apartment? How will it look like the climate continues? “

“I think there is a lot of discomfort, and this is something that many bad actors want to benefit from and use it for their benefit,” Netzel said.

Sean Broadheed, a Houston resident, who was riding bicycles along the National Commercial Center, agreed to the polarized political climate – pointing to the intensive discussions that were underway in the Capitol building this week, as the legislators wrestled with the draft of the controversial spending law Trump.

“I feel that there is a lot of division, not enough openness to the place where our country is now heading,” Broadheid explained.

What are the Americans still agreed upon? He said that the economy, Christmas and the fourth of July. Then he added, “I try not to bring politics or religion.”

Society, opportunity, equality

Soto Shah, a resident of Seattle, who immigrated to the United States from India to work in the technology industry, said it could not speak to political divisions in the country. But she said that the country is right for the ground of opportunities.

She said: “It is a country that goes in the right direction, in terms of taking steps (to make it better) better for the American people, and I think this should be calculated for something.”

Some gathered near the country’s most famous landmarks in the country, who were hoping that the fourth of July would highlight a sense of national pride. Jim Dubri, a member of the American Legion, took a look at the White House and its southern width of the public park on its borders. There was a vision of the new American flag that Trump installed last month.

“I hope to see a lot of patriotism about the country,” said Duberi, who described himself as a supporter of Trump.

“I hope that the US patriotism will be reshaped because the country now lasts for about 250 years, sticking to the same constitution without major changes – it’s very impressive,” he said.

Vincent Langan, a resident of New Jersey who was visiting Washington during a road trip to see friends, said the American political climate generates “a really strong hatred that enters many different squares of public and private life that makes things very difficult here.”

But Lanjan adds that he still believes in the “unique model of democracy” in America, and that the country is still involved in values ​​across partisan lines.

“I think that society – the desire to be in a society with each other, hard work, and the pursuit of happiness (is) an important part (for life) here,” he said. “Also, the ability to talk about your mind and be free about who you are, what you want to do and what you believe in.”