Since 2015, our nation has drifted further apart. Friends, families and neighbors often stop communicating because of politics. What was once an afterthought for many Americans — especially younger ones — now dominates everyday life. The actions of elected and unelected officials at every level of government are constantly at the center of public attention.

As someone who has been passionate about politics since kindergarten, and who is now pursuing a master’s degree in public policy, it is frustrating to see so much hostility, arrogance, ignorance and incompetence in our political system. What is especially troubling is how many people support candidates based largely on rhetoric, without understanding the policy implications behind it.

This problem exists on both sides of the political spectrum.

Take Democrats, for example: ideas like universal healthcare, free college and raising the minimum wage are attractive in theory but far more complicated in practice. Even when Democrats control both Congress and the presidency, they are rarely united on implementation.

Many support these policies in principle but prefer gradual rollouts. For instance, some oppose eliminating private healthcare — including union-negotiated plans — and instead favor a public option.

Political realities also make sweeping reforms difficult — Democrats would likely need 60 Senate votes, an almost impossible number in today’s climate. Attempts to reform or end the filibuster have also divided the party.

As a result, many Americans — especially young people — grow frustrated with Democrats’ inability to deliver on promises. This is not always because they do not want to fix problems, but because political and structural obstacles make sweeping change difficult. That frustration can fuel more anger and disillusionment.

Republicans face similar challenges. Donald Trump’s promise of a massive border wall across 2,000 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border proved far more complicated than campaign rhetoric suggested.

Beyond the immense cost and long timeline, there were practical barriers — shifting rivers, private land ownership, harsh desert conditions and the reality that traffickers and migrants already bypass walls through tunnels, ports and airports. Even if completed, the wall alone would not solve the deeper issues of immigration and border security.

Another example is the attempted crackdown on undocumented immigrants in both cities and rural communities.