Former Ambassador Ryan Crocker, in an interview on VOA with Greta Van Susteren, spoke of “rule by executive decree.” He was speaking specifically of the Iran nuclear agreement, but his words apply more broadly.

As Crocker pointed out, both Democratic and Republican presidents have used executive orders to carry our their policies to an unprecedented degree. Rules are issued; rules are rescinded, all by strokes of the presidential pen.

Congress is unable to pass even simple legislation. Our divisions have torn it apart, leaving it unable to function.

This position, Crocker rightly pointed out, “is not a good position for our nation to be in.” It damages our ability to act with any authority in world affairs.

Our friends wait for us to find a path. Our enemies take advantage of our flip-flopping. We can’t be trusted, they say. Just wait, and policy will change with the next president.

At some point, if we are to overcome this blockage, we must respect those with whom we disagree and work together. Name calling and angry tweets belong to unsupervised children.

Are we capable of “reasoning together”? Our survival depends on it.