Solutions & Recommendations
Practical Approaches from Across the Political Spectrum
Every major issue has solutions that both sides can support. Here's what the left and right propose— and where they find common ground.
Common-Sense Solutions Americans Support
These aren't partisan talking points—they're practical reforms with broad support across the political spectrum
Ranked Choice Voting
Let voters rank candidates by preference, eliminating vote-splitting and reducing negative campaigning. Already working in Alaska and Maine—reducing polarization and empowering moderates.
Learn more →Campaign Finance Transparency
Require disclosure of all political donors over $200. No more dark money hiding who's funding campaigns. Sunlight is the best disinfectant for corruption.
Learn more →Medicare Drug Price Negotiation
Let Medicare negotiate prescription drug prices like the VA already does. Americans pay 3-4x more than other countries for the same medications. Both parties' voters support this.
Learn more →Affordable Housing Reform
Streamline zoning to allow more housing construction near jobs and transit. Fix the supply shortage that's pricing families out. Pro-market solution both left and right can support.
Learn more →Universal Background Checks
Require background checks for all gun sales, including private sales. Supported by 80-90% of Americans including gun owners. Common-sense safety without banning firearms.
Learn more →Clean Energy Tax Credits
Expand tax credits for solar, wind, and energy efficiency. Create American jobs, lower energy costs, and reduce dependence on foreign oil. Free market climate solution.
Learn more →Notice a pattern? These solutions address real problems without requiring anyone to "win" the culture war.
Most Americans—regardless of party—support practical reforms when they're presented without partisan framing. The divide isn't between citizens. It's between citizens and a political system that profits from division.
Healthcare Access & Affordability
Americans pay more for healthcare than any other developed nation, yet millions remain uninsured or underinsured.
Progressive Approach
- ▸Expand Medicare eligibility or create a public option to compete with private insurance
- ▸Allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices across all medications
- ▸Cap out-of-pocket costs and eliminate surprise medical billing
- ▸Invest in community health centers in underserved areas
Conservative Approach
- ▸Increase price transparency so patients can compare costs before treatment
- ▸Expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and tax incentives for individual coverage
- ▸Allow insurance purchases across state lines to increase competition
- ▸Reduce regulations that drive up costs while maintaining safety standards
Common Ground: Where We Can Agree
- ✓Lower prescription drug costs through negotiation or importation
- ✓End surprise medical billing
- ✓Increase price transparency in healthcare
- ✓Maintain protections for pre-existing conditions
Affordable Housing
Housing costs have outpaced wage growth, pricing families out of home ownership and stable rentals in many communities.
Progressive Approach
- ▸Invest in public housing and housing assistance programs
- ▸Implement rent stabilization in high-cost areas
- ▸Tax incentives for developers building affordable housing
- ▸Crack down on corporate landlords and speculative buying
Conservative Approach
- ▸Reform zoning laws to allow more housing construction (end restrictive zoning)
- ▸Reduce building regulations and permitting delays that increase costs
- ▸Incentivize private sector development through tax breaks
- ▸Limit federal overreach; let local markets determine supply
Common Ground: Where We Can Agree
- ✓Streamline zoning to allow more housing near jobs and transit
- ✓Fix supply shortage through increased construction
- ✓Reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers
- ✓Support first-time homebuyer programs
Education & Opportunity
Educational outcomes vary dramatically by ZIP code, and college costs burden families with crushing debt.
Progressive Approach
- ▸Increase funding for public schools, especially in low-income districts
- ▸Make community college tuition-free
- ▸Cancel or reduce student loan debt; make public college affordable
- ▸Increase teacher pay and invest in early childhood education
Conservative Approach
- ▸Expand school choice through charter schools and voucher programs
- ▸Focus on vocational training and apprenticeships as alternatives to college
- ▸Hold colleges accountable for outcomes; tie federal aid to job placement
- ▸Empower parents with control over curriculum and school selection
Common Ground: Where We Can Agree
- ✓Expand access to vocational training and apprenticeships
- ✓Reduce administrative bloat in higher education
- ✓Invest in career and technical education programs
- ✓Make student loan repayment more manageable
Immigration Reform
The immigration system is broken—long backlogs, undocumented immigrants in limbo, and border security concerns.
Progressive Approach
- ▸Create pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought here as children (Dreamers)
- ▸Increase refugee admissions and protect asylum seekers
- ▸Reform visa system to reunite families faster
- ▸Provide legal status to undocumented essential workers
Conservative Approach
- ▸Secure the border with physical barriers, technology, and enforcement
- ▸Increase deportations of criminals and those who entered illegally
- ▸Shift to merit-based immigration prioritizing skills and employment
- ▸End "catch and release" policies; detain those awaiting hearings
Common Ground: Where We Can Agree
- ✓Secure borders while treating people humanely
- ✓Clear the backlog in immigration courts with more judges
- ✓Fix legal immigration system to reduce wait times
- ✓E-Verify system to prevent illegal employment
Gun Rights & Safety
Gun violence kills tens of thousands annually, while millions of law-abiding gun owners value their Second Amendment rights.
Progressive Approach
- ▸Require universal background checks for all gun sales, including private sales
- ▸Ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines
- ▸Implement red flag laws to temporarily remove guns from dangerous individuals
- ▸Require safe storage laws and hold gun owners accountable for negligence
Conservative Approach
- ▸Enforce existing gun laws strictly before creating new ones
- ▸Improve mental health services and school security
- ▸Allow trained teachers/staff to carry firearms in schools
- ▸Protect Second Amendment rights and oppose registries/confiscation
Common Ground: Where We Can Agree
- ✓Universal background checks (supported by 80-90% of Americans)
- ✓Red flag laws with due process protections
- ✓Improve mental health crisis intervention
- ✓Keep guns away from domestic abusers and violent criminals
Climate & Environment
Climate change threatens communities through extreme weather, while energy costs and reliability matter to families.
Progressive Approach
- ▸Aggressive transition to renewable energy (solar, wind) with federal investment
- ▸Regulate carbon emissions and hold polluters accountable
- ▸Invest in green jobs and clean energy infrastructure
- ▸Rejoin international climate agreements and lead global efforts
Conservative Approach
- ▸Pursue energy independence through all sources (including natural gas, nuclear)
- ▸Use market incentives rather than mandates to encourage clean energy
- ▸Invest in innovation and technology rather than regulation
- ▸Protect American jobs and avoid unilateral actions that harm competitiveness
Common Ground: Where We Can Agree
- ✓Expand tax credits for solar, wind, and energy efficiency
- ✓Invest in nuclear energy as clean baseload power
- ✓Support American energy independence
- ✓Encourage innovation through R&D funding
Electoral Reform
Gerrymandering, money in politics, and polarization undermine faith in democracy and block problem-solving.
Progressive Approach
- ▸End partisan gerrymandering through independent redistricting commissions
- ▸Overturn Citizens United; limit corporate money in politics
- ▸Automatic voter registration and expanded early voting
- ▸Public financing of campaigns to reduce dependence on wealthy donors
Conservative Approach
- ▸Require voter ID to ensure election integrity
- ▸Protect free speech rights for political contributions
- ▸Empower states to manage their own election systems
- ▸Term limits for Congress to reduce career politicians
Common Ground: Where We Can Agree
- ✓End gerrymandering with independent redistricting
- ✓Require disclosure of all political donors over $200
- ✓Implement ranked choice voting to reduce polarization
- ✓Term limits for Congress (polling shows broad support)
Economic Opportunity
Wage growth has stagnated for working families while costs for essentials—housing, healthcare, childcare—have soared.
Progressive Approach
- ▸Raise the minimum wage to a living wage indexed to inflation
- ▸Strengthen labor unions and collective bargaining rights
- ▸Tax the wealthy and corporations more; invest in working families
- ▸Universal childcare and paid family leave
Conservative Approach
- ▸Cut taxes and regulations to boost economic growth and job creation
- ▸Invest in vocational training and apprenticeships
- ▸Keep minimum wage decisions at state/local level based on cost of living
- ▸Encourage entrepreneurship and small business development
Common Ground: Where We Can Agree
- ✓Expand Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for working families
- ✓Invest in workforce training and apprenticeships
- ✓Make childcare more affordable through tax credits
- ✓Support small businesses and reduce bureaucratic barriers
From Ideas to Action
These solutions exist. The polling shows broad support. The only thing missing is the political will to compromise and get things done. Contact your representatives and demand they work across the aisle.
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