Reclaiming Our Common Ground: 5 Ways to Build Bridges Through Consensus

Episode 22 of the Building Bridges Series
4-minute read

Most of us were taught that democracies are based on the principle of majority rule and that political power comes from the will of the people. But the reality is that our democracy (okay, so technically the U.S. is a federated republic) is currently being run by two political parties that are representing relatively small minorities of Americans.

A 2025 Gallup Poll showed that a record-high 45% of U.S. adults identified as political Independents. Meanwhile, equal shares of U.S. adults — 27% each — identified as either Democrats or Republicans.

Both the Republican and Democrat parties act more like powerful special interest groups than as advocates for the most common interests of U.S. citizens. And the majority of Americans actually don’t agree with much of what either party is working towards. As a matter of fact, many voters see Democrats and Republicans as part of the same big problem.

In my last post, I shared that Americans agree on far more than we think—often 70%, 80%, even 90% of us support the same policies. This is the “broad center” of America, which is largely ignored by national politicians. But powerful forces (media, politicians, and others seeking power and influence) are working hard to focus our attention and resources on what will benefit them, and too often this comes at the expense of the rest of us.

What we need is a shift in what we, as a society, pay attention to. We need to restore power to the majority, to reclaim the common ground that already exists.

Now, you might be thinking, “Okay, but what can I actually do about it?” That’s the right question. Here are five concrete actions you can take this week to start building bridges through consensus, along with estimates of how much time will be required to complete each one:

1. Learn What We Actually Agree On (30 Minutes)

Before you can talk about consensus, you need to know what it is. Spend half an hour researching issues with broad bipartisan support. Start with recent polling from organizations like YouGov or Pew Research. You’ll find that Americans across party lines support things like:

Protecting children from social media harms
Making healthcare more affordable
Preparing students for the workforce
Addressing election misinformation
Giving DACA recipients a path to citizenship

Pick three issues you care about. Save the polling data. You’ll need it for the next steps.

Why this matters: You can’t change the conversation if you don’t know what the actual conversation should be. Most people genuinely don’t know that this consensus exists.

2. Have One “Consensus Conversation” This Week (1 Hour)

Find someone who votes differently than you do. This could be a family member, coworker, neighbor, or friend. Ask them to coffee or lunch. Start the conversation like this:

“I’ve been reading about issues where most Americans actually agree, regardless of politics. I found out that [specific percentage] of Republicans and Democrats support [specific issue]. Did you know that? What do you think about it?”

Key rules:

Start with genuine curiosity, not debate
Pick an issue you both likely support
Ask questions more than you talk
Listen to understand their reasons
End on the agreement, not the areas you might still disagree on

Why this matters: One conversation won’t solve polarization, but it breaks the pattern of assuming the worst about “the other side.” It provides proof that agreement exists—not just in polling data, but in real human interaction.

3. Contact Your Representatives About One Consensus Issue (15 Minutes)

Pick one issue from your research where 70%+ of Americans agree. Find your senator’s or representative’s contact information and write up a short message:

“I’m writing as your constituent from [town]. Recent polling shows that [percentage]% of Americans, including majorities of both Republicans and Democrats, support [specific policy]. I’m one of them. Will you commit to supporting legislation on this issue? Please respond with your position.”

Send the same message to your two senators and your representative. Set a calendar reminder to follow up in two weeks if you don’t hear back.

Why this matters: Representatives respond to constituent pressure, especially when it’s clear and specific. A single email won’t change their vote, but if they get hundreds of emails about consensus issues, they notice.

4. Share Consensus Data on Social Media (10 Minutes)

This week, post about one consensus issue instead of sharing content about division. Use this template:

“Did you know that [percentage]% of Americans—including [percentage]% of Republicans and [percentage]% of Democrats—support [policy]? I was surprised to learn this. We agree on more than we think. [Link to source]”

Add a question: “What other issues do you think Americans actually agree on?”

Alternative approach: Share this post using the hashtag #HiddenConsensus or #WeAgreeOnThis. The goal is to make agreement visible.

Why this matters: Social media algorithms amplify outrage, but they also amplify what gets engagement. If enough people share consensus content, it changes what appears in feeds. You’re providing an alternative to the division.

5. Commit to “Consensus First” in Your Next Political Conversation (Ongoing)

The next time someone brings up politics in a way that assumes complete division, gently interrupt the pattern:

“Yeah, we definitely disagree on [divisive issue]. But did you know that we probably agree on [consensus issue]? I just learned that most Americans across party lines support [specific policy]. Do you?”

Why this matters: You’re modeling a different way of having political conversations—one that acknowledges disagreement but doesn’t lead with it. Start with common ground, then if needed, discuss where you differ. This completely changes the emotional tone.

The Larger Pattern

Notice what these five actions have in common: they all make consensus visible in spaces where division usually dominates.

You’re not trying to eliminate disagreement or pretend differences don’t exist. You’re simply refusing to let division be the only story. You’re reminding people—including yourself—that agreement is real and common.

Start Small, Think Big

You don’t need to do all five this week. Pick one. Do it well. Then pick another next week.

Building bridges isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about consistent small actions that accumulate over time. It’s about being the person in your circle who says, “Wait, we agree on more than that.”

Culture change takes time; we can’t just have a debate and end with agreement about where to go next. Change starts with individuals who refuse to accept that division is inevitable. It starts with people who make consensus visible. It starts with you.

So: which of these five will you do this week?

Read more of the Building Bridges To Common Ground Series >>