The United States is 249 years old today. Can Americans still find common ground?

Just a few meters from the Washington Monument, near the White House view, tourists from all over the United States gather before the fourth holiday in July.

The United States turns 249 on Friday. But among those visiting its capital, the country deeply breaks the sense of the country in terms of political issues and the values ​​of its definition.

Andrea Bautista from Grand Rapids, Michigan said: “This country is definitely based on division.

Bautista, who celebrates the national holiday and her most recent birthday in the capital, said she felt there was little room for nuance in public discussion of American politics—and she also didn’t think Americans had a cohesive national identity.

“I can have very conservative ideas, but I also have very left-wing ideas,” she said. “But the problem is that people don't see it that way. People just want to assume you're on one side.”

Polls show where Americans are separated: Trump's presidencyin his government Immigration suppressionin us Support Ukraine,as well as Large expenditure bills Just passed by Congress, among other things.

A polarized country

Emily West, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Pittsburgh, said in an interview that she believes there are some commonalities.

But, “I think the way these political divisions break down time over time makes it increasingly difficult to find this commonality.”

“I say we may be more broken,” West said, compared to Trump's first term. West examines how American political identity affects democracy and polarization.

“Because of the extent of Trump or to what extent, because we have been at the level of this trend over the past 20 years,” she said. “Many factors, including the two, may be somewhat integrated.”

Some Americans who spoke with CBC News said there was little consensus on politics.

The best he can do is to “agree or not,” St. Louis resident Sean Edwards is not satisfied with the current White House.

“It's just the way the country is currently operating – there's a gap,” Edwards said.

What brings Americans together?

So, what (if any) still brings Americans together? According to Gallup's economic confidence index, many people still care about the economy. About three-quarters agree that Washington desperately needs fresh faces based on an NBC poll conducted in April, which surveyed 19,682 adults nationwide. The error margin is +/- 2.2 percentage points.

For Luka Netzel, a graduate from Kansas City, Missouri, whose job brings him nationwide, affordability seems to be a major issue beyond political division.

“I think a lot of people are right now: 'What is the future like? If I can't even think about affording a house or apartment, what will the next five years look like? What will happen as the climate continues to change?”

“I think there's a lot of upset, and it's something that a lot of bad actors want to take advantage of and use for their own strengths,” Netzel said.

Shawn Broadhead, a cyclist in Houston along the National Mall, agreed to the polarized political climate, pointing to the intense debate in the Capitol building this week while lawmakers wrestle with Trump’s controversial spending bill.

“I feel like there is a lot of division and not enough open mind to the way our country is heading,” Broadhead explained.

What can Americans still agree with? He said the economy, Christmas and July 4. Then add, “I try not to propose politics or religion.”

Community, Opportunity, Equality

Seattle resident Setu Shah, who immigrated from India to the U.S. to work in the tech industry, said she could not speak to the country's political department. But she said the country is rightly called a place of opportunity.

“This is a country heading in the right direction, in terms of measures taken [to make] It's better, better for the American people, and I think that should be a thing. ” she said.

Some gather near the country's most famous landmark, hoping that July 4 will bring a sense of national pride. American Legion member Jim Dupree enjoyed views of the White House and its southern lawns. There he saw the new American flagpole installed by Trump last month.

“I want to see more patriotism,” Dupree said, calling himself a supporter of Trump.

“I hope [that] American patriotism can be rekindled, because the country continues now [almost] 250 years, adhering to the same constitution without major changes – this is very remarkable. ” he said.

Vincent Langan, a New Jersey resident, said during a trip to Washington that the U.S. political climate breeding “very powerful hatred that has entered many different areas of public and private life, making things very difficult here.”

But Langan added that he still believes in the “unique democratic model” of the United States and that the country still shares common values ​​on partisan boundaries.

“I think community – want to participate in each other’s community, work hard, pursue happiness [are] Important parts [of life] Here, he said. “Also the ability to speak out your thoughts and be free to understand who you are, what you want to do and what you believe in.”