Bipartisanship Should Not Be Viewed Negatively

Distributed by Trice Edney Newswire

What is one thing you can agree on with someone across the political divide? The late General Colin Powell advised, “Figure that out and you can get a lot done.” As victories are achieved together, more common ground might emerge.

The nation is deeply divided, with many painful wounds from recent election cycles. Instead of focusing on these divides, healing can come from collaborative action on agreed priorities.

Martin Luther King Jr. once taught that comfort in a coalition indicates it’s too small. Unlikely allies and large coalitions can achieve significant results. During my tenure as NAACP’s national president, we united diverse groups to reduce prison systems and restore voting rights.

Bipartisanship can drive progress, demonstrated by recent environmental legislative efforts at federal, state, and local levels.

Despite Donald Trump and allies’ ties to fossil fuel industries, bipartisan support enabled the Great American Outdoors Act’s passage during his administration. This significant conservation bill secured permanent funding for vital projects and addressed a maintenance backlog in national parks, passing the Senate with a 73-25 vote.

We aim to replicate this success with the bipartisan EXPLORE Act, including the Every Kid Outdoors program, to broaden youth access to national parks and public lands.

In Iowa, a multipartisan coalition is working to halt a controversial carbon capture pipeline. Supported by diverse groups, a bill to slow project land seizures passed the Republican-majority Iowa House 86-7 but was halted in the Senate. However, efforts continue to bring it to a vote.

Locally, a Sierra Club volunteer shared a success story of convincing a predominantly Republican board to ban gas-powered leaf blowers, highlighting how local organizing transcends politics.

These examples show Americans overcoming partisanship to improve communities. Common ground exists if we seek it, essential for progress. Diverse coalitions are key to thriving together, echoing General Powell’s enduring wisdom.