In my hometown of Meridian Pennsylvania, a chilling incident unfolded that underscored the need for comprehensive political reform. A man managed to bypass Secret Service security with a ladder and a rifle, aimed at executing a horrifying act - assassinating President Trump. The Secret Service response did not come until shots were fired into the crowd, triggering outrage and allegations of deliberate neglect, particularly from Republicans.

This incident, rather than fostering understanding or unity, has only served to fan the flames of division, with some individuals even expressing disappointment that President Trump did not fall victim to this violent act. This is evidence of the dangerous extent of political polarization that is undermining our society. As the spirit of bipartisanship wanes, the life of our citizens and unity of our country are at stake.

To prevent such dire outcomes, we need to adopt transformative measures. Our proposal seeks to dissolve all political parties and have all registered voters identified solely as American citizens. By doing this, we aim to align voters not with a party, but with the ideals that the United States was founded upon. It will also ensure that elected officials are accountable not to a political party, but to the citizens they represent.

The Pew Research Center has shown increasing political polarization over the past two decades, which continues to divide us further along party lines (Pew Research Center, 2014). Therefore, this proposal presents a direct and proactive response to this troubling trend. In a time when our unity is crucial, this initiative aims to prioritize our common identity as Americans over partisan affiliations.

In our shared pursuit of a more united, less divided America, the appeal to both citizens and the government is this: sign this petition to commit to political reform and reestablish our shared identity and unity as Americans.