I’ve been wondering how to fix America.

That we’re broken is evident to all. Both sides in our national divorce speak of saving America from the other. We lie, sneak, cheat, scheme to thwart one another. Our conversation bristles with acrimony. We’d prefer to go it alone, we think, only we can’t see how. We’d shut our ears to the shouting if we could. “Shut up,” we plead, “leave me in peace!”

Divorces happen when love dies. That’s what’s wrong with America. Americans don’t love her. Some do – I do; I’m betting you do – some public servants still serve the common good; but most Americans treat their nation like a household appliance, a dishwasher say, that should be working but isn’t. We grumble, check the warranty (no luck there), call the repair guy whose name we found online, who arrives for a small fortune to tell you your dishwasher’s shot, then vanishes. We kick the despised old machine until we sigh, “Maybe it’s time for a new one.” No love here, no loyalty, no curiosity, just a galling reliance on this damn thing that’s not doing what it’s meant to.

How, when and why did we fall out of love with America, treating her like a necessary evil, not our Beloved. We loved America at the start – enough to risk our lives to get her going. We loved America when we spilled blood to defend her. We loved her when we won scary wars. Now, eh. Something like half of younger Americans dis democracy: it’s an inefficient shit-show, from what they’ve observed. Let’s try something new – what’ve we got to lose!

Like can be quick, but love takes time. Love is eager to know the Beloved deeply, care for her, bolster her in good times and bad. “Love is patient… kind … not self-seeking,” noted Saint Paul famously; “is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs… does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth… always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Americans don’t spend time on America. We’re more interested in, oh, the Superbowl… Taylor Swift … video games … those interminable gewgaws commerce tempts us with – a Tesla maybe, or an Apple helmet. We don’t teach civics; we sneer at patriotism. Increasingly, candidates for public office are bored rich guys or second-raters who can’t land a better gig (George Santos? Marjorie Taylor Greene? Mike Johnson? Really?!). There’s less and less prestige serving America. Trump captured our communal spirit when he called our war dead losers.

Can we rekindle our affection for America? Can we – truly – make her great again?

Maybe. But we’ve got to begin with basics.

First, we’ve got to spend time. Time learning in school. Time serving our nation. Time discussing with one another what America means. The more time we spend, the better we’ll know her, the more we’ll love her.

Folks who don’t spend time shouldn’t steer our course. We should license voters as we do drivers to keep us all safe. I’m not talking means testing or poll taxes or Jim Crow laws, I’m talking minimal awareness of and dedication to our American enterprise. Ever checked out our citizenship test? Give it a whirl. Shouldn’t a native voter know half as much as an adoptee?

Having made voters competent, let’s make votes count. Equally. Allow me to believe America’s fate is in my hands – and not just if I live in Ohio.

Does this mean we disenfranchise a whole bunch of stupid, lazy, indifferent citizens, who can’t bother spending fifteen minutes on nation-maintenance? So be it. Love takes work.