America is facing a second Cold War.

This version is not against the Russians, although you can say they are involved on the fringes of the conflict. No, this standoff is between factions of our own citizens, bitterly divided over where our country is and where they think it should be going.

We are more polarized than at any other time in our 243-year history. This is probably in large part because of the magnification that comes from the 24-hour news cycle, social media and the cesspool that is political debate on the internet.

What happens to a country when its citizens can no longer find any common ground and both sides of any debate have become so unbendable that logic and facts become irrelevant?

I’m not sure anyone has those answers, but it is scary to even consider them.

Recent polls and media reports have revealed that a large percentage of Americans have already made their minds up about which way they plan to vote in the 2020 election. This is despite the fact Democrats’ slate is far from settled.

The idea that nothing that happens in the next year and a half will have any significant impact on who is chosen to lead our nation is absolutely terrifying.

Blind partisanship may carry us, like lemmings, right off the cliff.

And it applies to both sides of the aisle.

Democrats are saying they don’t care how well the economy is doing or if we are experiencing unprecedented growth; that President Donald Trump still has to go. Republicans are likewise essentially sending a message that bad behavior and scandals are irrelevant as long as they get to keep their guy in office.

Neither of these perspectives are good for America.

It is one thing to be able to identify the challenges and adversity our country faces at this critical point in history. Finding real solutions is another thing entirely.

The only way it will happen will be through strong leadership from individuals who don’t really care about the Rs and Ds next to their names. It will take men and women with vision and humility, individuals who are willing to put the greater good in front of political gain and who gets credit.

Do those people exist? Absolutely, but we have to empower them and put our own biases aside.

It won’t be Democrats who save us. It won’t be Republicans. Individuals uniting as Americans will carry us through this adversity as we finally get back to common ground that benefits each and every citizen.

Michael Caldwell is publisher of The Winchester Sun and Winchester Living magazine. He can be reached at (859) 759-0095 or by email at mike.caldwell@winchestersun.com.