I think many of the issues in America could be resolved if the American mentality was changed. Using the metaphor of climbing a slippery slope, the stereotypical American is focused on individually getting to the top, and it is possible because a few smart, talented, or lucky people got there, but, with everyone taking that mentality, the situation just ends up with everyone pulling each other down and climbing over each other. It would be great if we could change the mentality to helping each other up, so everyone benefits; if you slip someone will catch your hand, assuming that you would do the same thing. Basically people acting for the benefit of the collective whole, rather than themselves with the expectation that as the whole improves, they will be pulled up along with it.
I understand that even if we did have this attitude of helping each other we would still have problems with deciding what is the best way to solve the problems of the collective whole, but, perhaps, politicians would be more willing to consider the thoughts of the other side instead of just condemning opposing thoughts.
Other thoughts. The media sucks, from FOX news to NBC, all they care about is profits, viewers, and ratings, which means stories that will inflame or captivate the most number of people are shown and exaggerated, while other stories with comparative impact are pushed to the side because they might not be agreeable (particularly race related stuff).