Bridging divides to tackle climate and defend democracy | Opinion

I can’t stand it anymore. I want to write about making our lives better: housing, healthcare, energy, border control, and climate change.

But our country has been hijacked by a man who is taking a wrecking ball to our constitution, our laws and democratic norms, the international order, to the skilled and dedicated civil servants in our federal government, and to science.

As a climate scientist, I am committed to working together with problem solvers in both political parties to establish durable solutions to climate change.

Yet the Congressional representatives of one party have tied their fortunes to a cruel and selfish man with few morals, little respect for the law, no appreciation for the value of international alliances, and meager understanding of the value of science.

Durable political solutions to big problems require people setting aside their differences to meet each other with respect, embracing their common humanity and identifying common values, drawing on the expertise of both specialists and generalists to craft legislation that embodies those common values, and using the democratic process to pass bipartisan legislation.

I can most effectively work with people who are committed to the democratic process and who respect the rule of law and democratic norms. Without those, we have tyranny, chaos, or both.

Considerable pain from chaos, abuse of power, and international isolation can be avoided if the president can be removed from office or at least constrained.

The courts can and have constrained him to some extent, but the courts are slow and cannot remove him, having granted presidents immunity for any action that can be designated official.

That leaves Congress, which could constrain him if our Members of Congress (including Rep. Dan Newhouse) rediscover the power that they have (which We the People have trusted them with) to check the power of the president.

Our Congress can rebuke the president. It can pass legislation that clarifies the limits of his power. It can impeach and convict him for his abuse of power. It can remove him from office using the 25th amendment to the Constitution.

If Congress has the courage to do so, polling suggests that its members will have the support of the American people if they exercise their power. If everyone commits to voting for congressional candidates who will act accordingly, future abuse can also be constrained.

However, regardless of whether or not the president is constrained, the nation will still be divided after he has lost his power. The same forces that have led to polarization (partisan and misleading news media, social media) will still be operating.

Healing is needed to repair the damage to our social fabric by polarizing forces. It starts with you. It will require replacing your polarizing information sources with constructive interactions with people from the other side.

The first step is to reassess your information sources. The website adfontesmedia.com offers an objective assessment of the news value and reliability of many news media sources, as well as how far to the left or right they lean. Use the assessments to choose and use more factual and neutral news sources. You will find them less entertaining, but also less infuriating.

Second, step away from social media, or at least limit its use to activities that connect people. The algorithms encourage inflammatory statements, so be mindful of that.

Most importantly, reach out to those who supported the president (or, if you supported him, those who opposed him) and seek understanding of their values and appreciation for their humanity.

We must remind ourselves that we have far more in common with people than the characterization of them in our media suggests. Everyone, for example, wants a secure life of purpose and connection.

A recent study, “Bridging America’s Political Divide” found that 67% of Americans believe it’s important to get along with people they disagree with politically.

I urge everyone to check out the organization Braver Angels, which connects Republican and Democratic members in exercises that build the skills and habits to treat people who disagree with them with honesty, dignity and respect, to welcome opportunities to engage those with whom they disagree, and to seek common ground where it exists and, if possible, find ways to work together.

There are online and in-person workshops on red/blue engagement, depolarizing within, disagreeing better, common ground, families and politics, and public policy and race.

An in-person workshop on Families and Politics is happening soon right here in the Tri-Cities.

If you have a family member whose politics you struggle to understand, I recommend attending the Braver Angels event on Families and Politics at 12:30-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Richland City Library.

This in-person workshop will offer insight into why family differences over politics are uniquely challenging, recognition of common roles that family members play in political conversations, and strategies and skills for handling family political differences in a constructive way. Go to the Braver Angels Events Calendar to register.

If we can build bridges of understanding to our fellow citizens, we can get back to solving the pressing problems that we all care about.

-- Retired climate scientist Steve Ghan leads the Tri-Cities Washington Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby, guides crews that remove logs from the Pacific Crest Trail and serves as Treasurer for the Three Rivers Folklife Society.