Our forefathers, resistant to political parties, recognized the plight that would come to affect our government if partisanship arose. Today, our political world suffers from a lack of levelheaded communication. It is instead hindered by an inability to compromise. The core of our democracy — its citizenry — is disturbed by our current state, which discourages our nation’s people from being politically involved and informed. We continue to be unable to solve our gravest problems because of partisan alliances, an election process overridden with interest group money and an educational system that forfeits critical thinking.

The semester I spent immersed in the sociopolitical and cultural arenas of Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital, revived my commitment to political activism. I was an active participant in the making of history, as I rallied on the steps of our Supreme Court for affirmative action, raced to the White House on election night and listened to the insight of our modern day political leaders. Witnessing the merging of policy, power and politics, I garnered a deep appreciation for what our American political system is capable of doing — promoting LGBT equality, working toward immigration reform and establishing a more just healthcare system, among other honorable policy enactments.

Establishing such critical change can only occur when members from both sides of the aisle come together for the common good. In an interview with Bill Moyers, former Congressman Mickey Edwards (R-OK) pointed out that without compromise “we stop functioning as an American people working collectively to solve our problems.” What has made this country of 310 million people remarkable is the vast diversity that permeates our cities. Though we are diverse, with differing opinions, we must recognize that without compromise, we cannot “keep the bridges from falling down,” pay off debts, provide for the troops or do just about anything. We see the disjunction that exists within our campaigns — a series of negative advertisements, a saturation of interest group and corporate money. Our democracy has spiraled into a chaotic, polarizing state that necessitates change.

Our democracy has suffered at the hands of a political frenzy that has often put aside the needs of the collective. It is our constitutional right and obligation as citizens to demand proper representation — democracy will only function when we the people have a voice in public policy. I have become further impassioned by those willing to challenge the status quo, those who advocate political change for issues that once went unheeded. As Edwards stated, we “need to have a citizenship, one that is capable of operating in this kind of democracy.” It should be our priority to do a more effective job of teaching civics and critical thinking — of giving the American people the tools necessary to create informed opinions. What our political system requires is American engagement and zeal.

There is a plethora of pessimism surrounding Washington politics, and events this past year have done a swell job of enforcing such an outlook. But by electing President Obama for a second term, perhaps the American people have conveyed their optimism, recognizing the opportunity to fix what is broken. The onset of change in Washington is imminent — it can be felt by the many activists and professionals, young and old, working toward change. Rather than viewing government as the source of our nation’s problems, we need to leverage its potential capacity as a champion of the people. Our political system needs saving, perhaps by a generation with the innovation and the heart to do so, because when the system works, it works beautifully.

A version of this article appeared in the Jan. 28 print edition. Maria Michalos is a staff columnist. Email her at [email protected].