RANCHO SANTA FE, CALIF. – While small town parades, backyard barbecues and fireworks displays may be what many people associate with the 4th of July, Independence Day deserves far greater respect. Fifty-six men signed a single piece of parchment on this day in 1776 that contained 1,338 words that changed the history of the world for the better. That hallowed document claimed independence not only for a Nation but for a People.

Unfortunately, 242 years later, we are in danger of surrendering to the temptation of dependence.

In the latest episode of “Deconstructed,” IVN Principal Political Analyst TJ O’Hara talks with Dr. Lilliana Mason, author of the book "Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity," and assistant professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland. Dr. Mason deconstructs political polarization in America and the behavioral impact it is having on our nation.

Being born in America is like winning the lottery of life.

Being able-bodied and able-minded on top of that, in good health and of average or better intelligence, is just a big 'ole cherry right on top of the biggest, best bowl of pure ice cream there ever was.

Where to even begin?

Immigration is not a partisan issue, but the mainstream media and Congress have framed this current effort to fix our broken system as a partisan game, appealing to our lowest common denominators.

By all meaningful accounts, immigration reform needs to be addressed by Congress, and yet, our elected leaders double down on their partisan narratives, further dividing the country, giving oxygen to the extreme voices who offer no chance of solving this crisis.

Advocates of the nonpartisan, top-two open primary system are collecting signatures to get the reform on the 2020 ballot in Florida. The effort comes after the Florida Constitutional Revision Commission rejected a proposal for nonpartisan primary reform earlier this year.

Ranked choice voting has grown significantly in popularity since the battle between voters and politicians in Maine caught the attention of national media outlets. Now, there are a number of states that could soon follow Maine's example.

One of the most notable efforts is in Massachusetts, where a growing organization, Voter Choice Massachusetts, is making a strong push for the voting reform. And the reason could not be simpler: "Our politics are dysfunctional."

The voting record of a 29-year-old general contractor from the little town of Tiger, Georgia, makes him by far the most independent member of the Georgia House of Representatives.

In addition to his construction business, Matt Gurtler has worked as a political consultant since 2015, learning about the political process by volunteering for Texas Congressman Ron Paul's presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012, and serving as a Delegate to the Georgia Republican Party in 2013 and 2015.

Americans deserve a fair voting system

If you’re like many Americans, you’ve never heard of vote splitting, yet it exerts an underlying force on American elections that has the potential to change the outcome of an entire race.

San Diego Union-Tribune Columnist Michael Smolens' recent piece, "Why San Diego's marquee initiatives might not make the ballot" is a great read that raises a lot of important questions on the possibility that four region changing initiatives might not make it onto the November ballot.

Smolens raises a number of questions including:

Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Kevin McCormick is officially off his party's primary ballot. He was the only libertarian candidate still in the race, until Arizona GOP Chair Jonathan Lines challenged the legitimacy of over 90 percent of his ballot signatures.