The fiscal cliff “negotiations” were yet another embarrassment by Congress. Our national debt is a serious problem, and both parties are going to have to make a lot of compromises to get it under control. The American people are and should be angry that our leaders cannot work together on any issue. It is embarrassing and unnecessary, and as citizens, we should demand more from our leaders. The discussions about our debt will continue, and maybe in this time, our leaders should listen to their constituents, the people who will be affected by their decision, or lack thereof.

Americans disapprove of how our representatives are doing their job 4-1. This is not acceptable. This demonstrates that our representatives are working for their parties and not their constituents. Something in our system has to change.

A possible solution would be to educate the general public about the problem. Let leaders from both parties go out across the country and teach the general public about this issue and then actually listen to their responses. This is one way to get the parties using the same strategy; it gets people talking, and pressure for a good solution will come from the public instead of stubborn party leaders.

This would be great for any issues that arise in Congress — from health care reform to gun control. Let the people understand the problem, and let’s learn from each other.

From the 2008 recession, people across the nation had to re-evaluate their personal finances as many people lost their jobs and homes. People are more cautious, and some have learned that they can’t spend forever. Our representatives in Congress could learn a thing or two about the effects of debt from people who have actually had to deal with it.

According to the Huffington Post, the plans that were proposed by both parties didn’t match up with what the American people thought was best. According to a poll, people prefered Obama’s plan 41 percent to 32 percent.

If our leaders spent as much time working with the general public as they did yelling at each other, think of everything we could accomplish. Maybe working with the public and listening to our frustrations could lead to more willingness to work together.

Having more informed citizens would be great for our political system. Our politicians are powerful, but they need to remember that they are where they are to best represent and benefit their constituents. By educating the public about various issues, the leaders can learn about what their constituents would actually like to see happen. By building a stronger relationship between politicians and their constituents, maybe, just maybe, the strength of party influence can become slightly less powerful. Just imagine a world where politicians listened to their constituents over their parties.

Call me a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers made their desire of an informed citizenry known. It couldn’t hurt to at least give it a shot.

There are no easy solutions to the issues we are facing as a nation. That is why we need our best people working toward solutions, but we need them working for a solution, not a political party. Starting with a general education about the problem could lead to more ideas of possible solutions, which could (potentially) lead to better discussions, which idealistically will lead to the best possible solution for our nation.

If Congress would make the effort to inform citizens about issues, then the next logical thing would be for citizens to be receptive and engaged. As citizens, we should make the effort to be informed and let our thoughts and beliefs be known to our leaders. If they reach out to us, we need to make sure we respond.

We all should have similar goals for our country. So, we should be able to work together to achieve them.

“If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” If you aren’t going to be politically active in any way, maybe you should think twice before speaking up.

Our nation needs more open conversation and willingness to compromise. Until we work together, this current cycle of stubbornness and frustration will continue. As citizens, we can demand more of our leaders, and they should hear our thoughts. If we are active citizens, then we can be a good resource for them. All it takes is a little teamwork.

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Hannah Dankbar is a senior in political science and Spanish from Johnston, Iowa.