America today is very divided on party lines, with the way things are going may average Americans and TV personalities believe bipartisanship is dead. Bipartisan by definition is the action of two opposing parties putting aside their differences and working together toward a common goal. In a different time bipartisanship was the political norm, being able to compromise and work together was something that all politicians strived for and was the standard. For a large part of American history there was not a lot of large differences between our political parties and for the most part even with divided government work together to drive the country forward. There have been times in our history were the country has been even more divided then today, such as the civil war and much civil and political unrest during the 60s and 70s. Our country has been through much harder times two world, cold war, recessions and depression we are strong and we must continue to stand tall as the greatest democracy on the face of this earth.

In the age of Trump, it is hard for many to see the Republicans and Democrats working together but there have actually been a few really good pieces of legislation that has passed with huge bipartisan support along with the Presidents during his two years in office. These have included the very recent success of the Criminal Justice Reform bill known as the First Step Act. This bill I personally found very hopeful that bipartisanship is still alive and well I also very much agree with this bill with American as a whole becoming are becoming more lenient on crime. This bill helps reduce minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses, limits the Clinton era three strikes policy. Along with putting people in jails closer to their families, and a huge part of it is about second chances gives the inmates so much more access to rehabilitative resources and education so they can be better equipped to rejoin society. This is a very strong and important piece of legislation that will helps many Americans and their families. President Trump said in his public support of the bill “Our whole Nation benefits if former inmates are able to reenter society as productive, law-abiding citizens”. This along with several other pieces of legislation including bills fighting human trafficking along with empowering women in society and in the work place and helping vets as well. These and others are all pieces of the modern bipartisanship in the Trump era still going strong but is covered for the most part by disagreements and fighting between the two parties.

There is still much to be worked out between the Republicans and the Democrats but I believe that there is still much that they agree on enough to work together. One big thing in infrastructure this is one of Trumps big campaign promises to invest large in infrastructure and along with deregulation to help get projects off the ground much quicker. The Democrats for the most part is very much in support for investments in infrastructure which has been part of their party platform for decades. Some believe that with President Trump in office the Democrats are simple just unwilling to work with him even when they agree with him. I believe that the Democrats as the take control of the House of Reprecipitates they must compromise and work with the GOP and Trump in order to show the American people they are mature enough and have to leader to deserve to be in power. I think that if the parties are able to show they can work together on something great like building new roads and hospitals across the nation in could bring in a new time on calmness and maturity back to politics, a kinder and gentler nation.

First in order for this to happen the government shut down will have to end which is very import for America as a whole. President Trump has made his demand and has addressed the nation on the importance of better border security and humanitarian aid to the southern border. I has drawn a line in the stand on this and is standing firm that he will not sign any bill to reopen the government without the proper funding for better border security, humanitarian aid, and the wall or fencing for the southern border. The Democrats have for the most part been unwilling to negotiate as well as the republicans on this issue. Many Democrats including the newly elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi think the wall is unnecessary and immoral. This is in contrast to statement made by many democrats a just a few years ago including Pelosi, Obama and many more support increase security and fencing. In the age of Trump, the tune of the Democrats has certainly changed against walls and fences along the southern border. I believe that the Democrats should just try to negotiate and give into some of the demands, I understand they have their views and their constituents they would give at least some funding for border security now so they can reopen the government. Then they can better plan for the future of border security and our budget as a whole without putting government works and the American people in the middle of it. Then in the end either got truly what they wanted but that is the nature of compromise and bipartisanship. It is a very important staple of our democracy and our leaders in Washington need to learn to work together for all Americans remembers the past while always looking toward the future for our nation.