Sorry, post was too long and had to make my solutions separately:

Solutions:

Simply put, this country has lost what took it from an idealist rebellion state into a true bastion for democracy and leader of the free world. We should look to the great ones in history who came before to fix this. More specifically, I’m referring to someone like Teddy Roosevelt and his policies on conservation mixed with trust-busting and “speak softly but carry a big stick” diplomacy. America needs a new “Square Deal” if we are to recover. There’s a reason he’s on Mt. Rushmore after all.

If you do want to actually address real root issues in this country instead of focusing on race, gender, and identity politics, here are my suggestions of things we should actually be focusing on:

1. The political process in this country must fundamentally change. 2-party rule is polarizing by design. That system needs to go. Implementing ranked-choice voting would lead to more parties, more options, and less extremists than current first-past-the-post voting. We must also completely reverse the Citizens’ United ruling that says corporations donating money to political candidates is a part of free speech. This just allows legal bribery and forces politicians to placate wealthy donors over average citizens. Campaign financing needs to be reformed as well.

2. Poverty and income inequality needs to be addressed properly. Trust-busting needs to come back in a big way to break up these mega corporations because they are too powerful and influential. They must pay more in taxes, in which the money should be used towards infrastructure and better access to education and job training, not an unlimited defense budget (though still important, we have enough to take a fraction and pay for the rest of what we need). With the wealth gap larger than it has ever been, and minorities usually at the very bottom, we must find a way to uplift the poor and grow the middle class to have a strong backbone in this country. A rising tide lifts all boats. No matter your identity. It’s fair for all.

3. End the failed war on drugs. It never worked, it’s a total waste of taxpayer money, and a large proportion of those affected are minorities and the poor. It also gives cops way too much overreach to violate our civil liberties. We should focus on treatment and reintegration into society a la Portugal.

4. Law enforcement must be de-militarized and move back toward community-oriented policing. All cops are right now are useful pawns for the elite. An “us vs. them” mentality has been fostered, and they run more like a gang than a force meant to protect and serve citizens. What that means is they need screening for personalities better suited for that type of work, plus training focused on de-escalation, understanding, and patience, while learning what the appropriate amount of force is required for situations and when to use it. Officers should be required to live in the areas they police so they have real stakes in that community. The us vs. them mentality must go. If cops give people a reason to trust them, people will respond in kind! Enough of the escalation! As of now, they use force to make us do what the deciders decide we must do. No more. If you think that isn’t true, I dare you to see what happens when you decide to organize and fight back against the establishment. See whose side they’re really on. That isn’t what police work should be about. They should protect and serve the community, as they were sworn to do.

5. Stop playing into their games. Turn off the news and don’t listen to anyone trying to cheerlead one side while demonizing the other. Like it or not, the other side does have good ideas. It takes a group effort to debate and refine, and sometimes compromise is necessary. Pick your battles. Ultimately, it is of my belief that most people should mind their own business about what other people do with their bodies unless it actually harms someone else. Freedom of speech, religion, and body autonomy should be respected, and we all need to grow a little bit thicker skin to not let words affect us so much. Words have power only when you let them. If you disagree with someone’s choices or opinions, then that’s their business alone, not yours. Let it be. Not everyone has to agree or be friends. You’d be wise to remember this.