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By David Hansen

Interestingly, the Tea Party and Occupy movements share the same roots: disillusionment with “Wall Street.” The impetus for the Tea Party was the Bush Administration’s bailouts of large financial firms; the Occupy movement was motivated by the lack of responsibility shouldered by same.

That illustrates an important point as we approach Independence Day: there is far more that unites us than divides us, even when looking at the so-called extremes. It’s easy to lose sight of that when the voices that draw attention refer to “Fascism” on the right and “Marxism” or “socialism” on the left.

If you care enough to protest, to staple tea bags to your hat or camp out in a city park, you care about the country. If you didn’t care you would stay home, make tea and camp in front of the television.

It’s always dangerous to try to categorize political views. Politicians and citizens have a jumble of views. But in general, if we imagine a scale of one to ten from unbridled Fascism to pure Marxism, the typical Republican would be at about 4.8 and average Democrat maybe 5.2. This is evident in the way Presidents govern.

Ronald Reagan is revered by conservatives yet raised taxes, seemed to support gay rights, created a path for “illegal” immigrants to become citizens, proposed nuclear disarmament, in general supported labor and was largely responsible for excluding the lowest incomes from having to pay Federal income tax (through the Earned Income Credit) while touting progressive income taxes. George W. Bush expanded Medicare and eventually, having access to the relevant facts, sought to address climate change.

Bill Clinton was a Southern Democrat with a moderate record coming into office. He initiated welfare reform and a number of successful economic measures. And despite what a vocal few would have you believe (and contrary to some of his statements prior to becoming President) Barack Obama has governed from somewhere near the center. He has cut the number of government employees and, by nearly any measure, improved government effectiveness. He brought a degree of accountability to the Bush Administration bailouts. He has overseen a slow improvement in the economy.

President Obama should be reelected, but what if Romney wins? Does anyone really think he will be a conservative icon? No – we either elect roughly centrist Presidents or, when they are in office, they gravitate toward the center.

It is within this “moderate” range, where studies show at least 80 percent of us fall, that we can find what it is worth celebrating as Americans. We want to reward initiative while reducing barriers to success. We support a safety net for those that need a hand. We value individual liberty and religious freedom. We believe in education and in leaving this country and the world a better place than we found it. Interpretation may differ but the goals are the same.

At least that’s what I trust we believe. I am shaken when I see Senator Mitch McConnell publicly declare that there will be no major legislation passed before November, just to deny the President any credit. It bothers me when I see the sixty or so Republican Representatives willing to hurt the economy over a non-issue like raising the debt ceiling to pay for bills already incurred, just because the word “debt” is in there.

But then I remember Ronald Reagan angrily reining in those who sought to decrease the role of government by starving or damaging it and I trust that we will collectively elect those who see that America is most effective when we put the political games aside and work together.

I generally vote for more progressive candidates, provided they have fiscal sense. My belief is that the economy is only tangentially affected by government actions but that government can do a great deal to improve the lives of its citizens – specifically children, the elderly and others that need help.

I regularly work with a fellow who is unabashedly conservative. But…we get along fine, and routinely discuss politically issues. I don’t see him as a Hitler and he doesn’t think of me as a Marx. Well, Groucho maybe, but not Karl.

We respect the fact that as Americans we can differ but, in the big picture, still do appreciate this country.

Happy Fourth of July. This year, let’s behave a little better than the hacks and PACS and celebrate the “United” part of the United States.