The right side and left side may be more alike than we may think at the moment.
It feels like the current public dialogue can push us apart instead of bringing us together to actually solve problems. Whether talking about the justice system, homelessness or the education system, it is likely both ends of the spectrum could agree on one thing: we are losing faith in some of our institutions.
But denying the need for these institutions or believing the best things is to simply disregard them likely won't get us to a better place. Instead, the public needs to hold our institutions accountable.
The education system, for example, is under increasing pressure in a number of ways, and school districts are required to deliver balanced budgets. At times, this must be nearly impossible, although the high cost of senior administrative salaries could be pointed to as a major obstacle to classroom funding when senior administrators make more than our premier.
How do people not lose faith in education — despite it's importance to a fair and democratic society providing equal opportunity for all — when it becomes bogged down by politics and procedure, and loses accountability to the society it is supposed to be serving.
Parents worried about their children having to walk further for a bus stop may have more in common than they realize with parents worrying about young people graduating who cannot read or write properly.
If institutions established to provide services for the people are led instead by political and corporate interests and no longer protect and serve the people, the people will lose faith.
So whether the concern is discrimination or distance to a bus stop, each parent can recognize their own anger at the institution in the other. As a society, we have to look at both sides, problem-solve, and prioritize.
Instead of pointing at one another, perhaps it is time to hold leaders, bureaucrats and our institutions accountable.
Let’s engage in dialogue, come together and educate ourselves on the issues rather than reacting to isolated issues or events.
