Yesterday I had a political conversation on a long car ride, and I bet you can guess it did not quite accomplish what I had hoped.

The conversation was political/environmental with one of those "agree to disagree" endings that left me in awe at our ability to diverge in opinion of desired action, while our goals proved almost identical.

I've seen this occur time and time again in the U.S. government:

Democrats and Republicans would both like to make our country safer. Liberals and Conservatives would both like a way for Americans to obtain affordable health care. These beliefs are universal on Capitol Hill.

The diverging point for the two parties is always when these universal ideas turn into plans of action.

It seems as though, once a group defines their own standpoint on how to handle an issue, their followers file in behind, and there is no return to common ground.

And, I think one thing that we can all agree on is that (at the end of things) we normally find there is a correct answer, a solution, and a way that is more beneficial in the long run, for almost every problem. So why do we keep finding ourselves in these stand-still disagreements?

It's this "agree to disagree," red or blue, black and white hysteria.

It's when we become so fixated on getting our own opinions across that we forget these universal goals and begin the war of who is undeniably wrong and who is definitely right.

And when we can't win, we part separate ways and call on a vote.

It's what is dividing us.

Today, we believe that it is courteous to end a discussion when conflict arises. We fall under the impression that a conversation will likely spiral out of control, rather than reach an agreement if we push too hard. And we have become so accustomed to call those who switch their stance "flip-floppers," that we have forgotten how to listen and compromise.

We throw in the towel and allow ourselves to contend that we merely have "different views."

What we neglect to understand is that it is only when we push these inevitable disagreements beyond our own comfort zones that we find the worthwhile solutions to our greatest problems, and reach our universal goals.

So, continue the conversation, even if you think it'll kill you.

As far as I know, toeing the line and testing the waters never hurt anyone.