Submitted Photo President Donald Trump will visit the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota on July 1 for a dedication ahead of its Independence Day opening. Photo from Adobe Stock.

As North Dakotans count down to America’s 250th anniversary, polling suggests Americans are divided over the country’s future and worried about the state of democracy.

A recent survey from the Public Religion Research Institute showed nearly 70% of Americans think the nation is in real danger of losing important democratic rights and freedoms. A poll from the Pew Research Center showed people are split on their optimism for the country’s future.

Meg Bostrom, co-founder of the strategic advisory firm Topos Partnership, said during a recent webinar exhaustion has set in from political gridlock.

“The people are disillusioned by the sense that the wealthy and powerful get to call all the shots,” Bostrom said. “But beneath that pessimism, there really is a persistent belief in America’s highest ideals.”

Bostrom pointed out research from her firm showed the public resonates most with the principle the people are supposed to be in charge.

In North Dakota, the state’s 250th Commission has distributed more than $140,000 in grants to encourage local organizations to host activities and celebrations to tell the story of how North Dakota has contributed to American history. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is scheduled to open on Independence Day.

As more people seem to have doubts about the morals and intentions of their fellow citizens, Bostrom stressed reminding everyone “We the People” includes every one of their neighbors can counter the divisive patriotism seen across the country.

“The strategy we developed is not an anti-Trump strategy,” Bostrom said. “It’s designed to speak to a supermajority of Americans, which includes a lot of people who voted for Trump, and they still gravitate toward the ideals behind this message.”

Bostrom added the country is at a critical juncture in its history. She pointed out people-led movements have previously succeeded in bettering society as a whole, and a powerful and unifying message could shift the way people talk and think about American identity.

“We have an opportunity to remind Americans of what we’re supposed to stand for, and people are hungry for that,” Bostrom said. “They want a unifying idea that helps them make meaning of this moment in time.”