Local residents joined their countrymen this past week in celebrating the 248th year of what George Washington called the “last great experiment for promoting human happiness.”

Yet, despite the fellowship and colorful pyrotechnics, it is hard to ignore the divisions in our society that feel as big, if not greater, than ever before.

According to a poll conducted by Reuters, 68% of Americans are concerned about potential political violence following the November presidential election. That number includes 83% of Democratd surveyed and 65% of Republicans.

In addition to violence, just 47% of Republicans believe the November election will be conducted legitimately.

Watching or reading the news, browsing social media or listening to morning talk shows is enough to convince even the most unassuming American that the divide between Republican and Democrat is impassable and only growing.

But is it really?

Multiple studies conducted over the past several years show Republicans and Democrats aren’t all that different. In fact, a study published in November by The Society for Personality and Social Psychology found members of the two political parties share similar views roughly 75% of the time.

Clean water, safe streets and good schools are issues that transcend political lines, and character traits such as honesty and integrity are valued across the political spectrum.

Despite our similarities, a hyper focus on the ever-nefarious “they” by political leaders and pundits amplifies our differences and gives the impression we are much more divided then we truly are.

See, that study in The Society for Personality and Social Psychology didn’t end with that survey. Instead, the results of the survey were given to two different groups to analyze. One group’s results highlighted the differences and divisions in between Republican and Democratic responders, while the other highlighted the similarities.

In the end, the group that focused on how the responses were alike showed a greater desire to work with the opposing party to find common ground and viewed political opposites in a more favorable light.

As we head into the final stretch of the 2024 election cycle, there will undoubtably be more reports of what “they” want to do. They want to take your rights away. They want to end democracy.

Sadly, there are people and organizations who want to see the United States fail.

Far more often, however, “they” are our friends, neighbors, church members and coworkers, and looks of far off concentration are less likely to be insidious plotting to destabilize global politics than they are an average person trying to remember if he or she shut the oven off.