This might be an unpopular opinion, but it's something I believe needs to be said. Democracy in America is hurting, at worst dying, from infection. A country founded on the idea of a "government of the people, by the people, for the people" (Gettysburg Address -- the concept originated with John Wycliffe) wasn't thought to last. In American fashion, we didn't give up and eventually became an example other countries looked to and proof that a democratic government can persevere and thrive. But, sometime in the last 239 years, democracy in America seems to be unfavorably changing.

Today's issue of immigration and border control? New York's Lady Liberty welcomed millions of immigrants starting in the late 1800s. This country has a past with welcoming people of different countries. I beg the question: What's so different these days that makes us want to force people from coming into the country? They possibly want to come here for a better life and who are we to deny them that? It seems a little hypocritical to me.

We elect leaders to represent us, but do they do what they said they will? Sometimes they do. There are elected leaders in government who try their hardest to get the bills passed they think will benefit or improve the life of this country's citizens. The catch is that there are elected leaders who maybe don't care about the particular issue or don't agree with the proposed plan of action. That's completely fine. It's understandable even, but what's not understandable is fighting over who is right and who is in the wrong and producing nothing. Elected officials seemingly forgot that a key element in running a government is compromise. Instead of working together to create a plan that has the promise of helping American citizens, some elected officials forget in order to "win some, you lose some."

We seem to let our pride or stubbornness blind us and maybe even determine our decisions and actions toward others. Just because you believe something different from the person sitting next to you right now or the person sitting across from you on the bus doesn't determine whether or not you can get along or be friends. If we, as citizens, can learn to accept that people and their beliefs could be different from ours and the elected government officials work together to improve the quality of life of this nation's people, we would be on the right track to reviving what the founding fathers's vision of democracy they wanted for the future of this country.