You might be surprised to learn that Democrats and Republicans sometimes listen to each other. When we listen to each other, we learn important truths. One truth is becoming increasingly clear: no one on the left or the right is 100% thrilled with the current direction of our country.
Widespread acknowledgement that something isn’t right is the first step toward making real change.
When a president abandons integrity and neglects the dignity owed to every American, that isn’t right.
When families lose access to a public library’s educational materials, that isn’t right.
When politicians try to sell off our public lands, that isn’t right.
When your health insurance costs skyrocket and life-saving medications become unaffordable, that isn’t right.
When children are ripped from their mothers in the name of immigration enforcement, that isn’t right.
Agreeing that something isn’t right — but having wildly different solutions for the problem — is the common course of partisan politics. This is what we need to return to. This is what I hope for in Kootenai County.
It’s OK to disagree. But on these topics, I think we can find common ground.
When it comes to political examples of integrity, Democrats and Republicans certainly look to different icons. However, we can agree on what integrity looks like in our community. In our community, integrity looks like telling the truth even when that’s hard. It looks like volunteering time to serve others, protecting public spaces for everyone to enjoy, and standing up for the truth — even when it’s unpopular. It looks like returning a wallet full of cash without a second thought, or speaking out when someone is treated unfairly, regardless of their political affiliation.
Regarding the recent changes to our local libraries, we can also find common ground across the aisle. Some community members worry that young children are being exposed to inappropriate content on the taxpayers dime. Others fear that restricting access to books opens the door to censorship and stifles learning. These are real concerns, and people come by them honestly. But there’s a remarkable point of agreement between both Democrats and Republicans: parents should be empowered to guide their children’s learning, and access to a wealth of information — especially outside the traditional classroom — is essential for a strong, informed community.
When our public lands were about to be sold off for development, Democrats and Republicans across Idaho flooded legislative inboxes with their loud dissent. As changes to Medicaid start to impact Idahoans, I anticipate a similar bipartisan outcry.
Finally, we agree on both sides of the aisle that immigration reform is necessary. The Trump administration is pushing change by investing in incarceration. As die-hard humanitarians, Democrats want to see families kept together, more legal pathways for people who contribute to the strength of our nation, and a system that upholds the human dignity of every individual — regardless of where they come from.
Frankly, if we can achieve consensus in Kootenai County, there is hope for America at large. Moving forward together, we can pull our nation from the brink of economic recession. We can restore access to publicly funded materials. We can create communities where families and individuals thrive. By finding areas of agreement, we can create a more perfect union.
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Sarah Martin is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.
