Positive feedback loop. This is a system where a process occurs that creates a result which then expedites that process. For example, global warming results in the melting of icebergs which result in sun light getting absorbed instead of reflecting, thus amplifying global warming and so on and so forth.

This is exactly what's happening in America's political divisiveness. Which way do you lean? What kind of content do you subscribe to? Which way do your friend groups lean? Do the answers to those latter two questions reinforce your answer to the first question, thus sending you further entrenched in your beliefs? The villainizing, name-calling and close-mindedness need to stop. It's time for all of us to take an introspective look, challenge what we believe in and most importantly, listen.

Truly the only way for America to progress is productive communication across the aisle. Often times these discussions start off completely on the wrong foot and are doomed from the get go. When both parties go in with the goal of converting the other side rather than the goal of understanding the other side, the discussion is going nowhere.

I, myself, have been guilty of this in the past. I will set a goal right now to stay conscious of this moving forward. I'm not saying this is always going to work. You'll meet stubborn people everywhere that you can never hope to have a productive conversation with. But seek out those that are educated and well-versed with an open attitude and you both may come out of the conversation with changed opinions and greater unity.

Whether you're a staunch liberal or a deeply rooted conservative, what you have in common is the fact that you care about your country and would like to see it prosper, is that not a starting middle ground to work off? Russia and China are laughing their way to the bank at how easy it was to divide us. Don't let them win.