Polarization - Can we reverse it?

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I am not talking about the magnetic poles, although they do reverse every so often. That will happen in a few thousand years or so. I am talking about the electorate. And although I am speaking mainly to Americans, I think it applies in many countries - our political parties seem to drift further and further away from each other, and as they do, the citizens drift with them until we are living next door to someone, but in our views, are at the opposite end of the spectrum. I really like this particular quote, and it's from a candidate but I don't want to discuss the candidate who said it, just the quote: "The problem with Washington is that we've all become Democrats and Republicans instead of Americans. " I think it's true. We are not thinking about the country as much as we are thinking about our political positions. And this takes a toll on people's characters as well as the nation itself. Once you commit to any ideology as being always right and the only thing you owe loyalty to, you forget that most everyone really does want the best for the country, even if you think they are going about it the wrong way. And because of this polarization, both sides are intolerant of the other. People stand at opposite poles and hurl insults. People defend the indefensible, if it happened on their side - but they demand justice if it happens on the other. I would prefer that we don't discuss particular positions or parties or even issues in the comments. What I want to know is not which candidates you hate, or what political views you despise, but what can we do about getting everyone to think of the good of their country first, and less about the advancement of a political agenda - no matter whose agenda it is. Can we do that?