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Guest Essay

By Kristen Soltis Anderson

Ms. Anderson, a contributing Opinion writer, is a Republican pollster and a moderator of Opinion’s series of focus groups.

As each new year approaches, many people reflect on what they hope will be different in the new year. We imagine ourselves living up to an ideal and wish for a better tomorrow. Soon, the tension between who we are and who we want to be emerges. We might say we want to be healthier or friendlier, but we find that true change is easier said than done.

Americans keep hoping next year will be better for their country, too. In polls that I see every day for my work, voters consistently say they want a different type of approach to politics and governing. They express their disapproval of leaders who behave badly. Record high levels of voters

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