The Trump vs Hillary campaign not only showed the division in our great country, it further expanded it more than any campaign in history!

Some may see that as a good thing. For those frustrated beyond endurance with a polarizing establishment in both parties, they may feel that division is actually a good thing.

However, there is a difference between establishing a powerful populist voice vs. creating a division that breaks apart our common good and a desire to build a stronger America. Caution must be as much a watchword today as any of those heard over the last year.

An invitation to heal is important, and invoked by Trump and at least hinted at by Clinton in her speech calling for an open mind. However, words are only a start at best, and must be fueled by actions to have any meaning.

Before offering some suggestions on just what actions could be profitable, I need to be completely transparent and state that I did not vote for Trump. Though I believe in limited government and am opposed to establishment politics, I withheld my vote for primarily two reasons—both reasons occurred at the start of his candidacy.

First, I have not supported any candidate in the last 30 years who used inflammatory rhetoric to get votes. History has proven that inflaming the passions of the people provides more opportunity to control them. I refuse to be controlled and thus, will not vote for anyone who shows a tendency toward control.

Yes, I had many friends and acquaintances that supported Trump because they were frustrated with gridlocked establishment who created a win/lose scenario on every issue. I understand their frustration, and their vote, and hope their vote means a move away from polarization and divisiveness.

Second, I favor governors over any other candidate for president. This is because there are unique skills in governing that are not experienced in any other manner. One is facilitating cooperation between opposing parties (senators are used to party polarity). Another is the understanding of administrating a government—it is not the same as a business or a congressional office.

Below are some suggestions for President-Elect Trump, as well as his and Clinton’s supporters.

First steps for President-Elect Trump:

Ø Approach immigration systematically, not emotionally. Immigration is not only a very provoking topic, it is also very complex. Certainly all sides agree that there needs to be change. What could never be accomplished before was getting all sides together to work on it. A sincere, purposeful inclusion of Latino leaders (legal citizens), economists, and social scientists from both parties needs to occur.

Ø Do more than apologize for the repellant comments regarding women. Yes they were over a decade ago, and yes Bill Clinton did horrible things as well and had accusers that Hillary dismissed. However, an apology just doesn’t cut it. A good first step would be to personally support organizations that work tirelessly to protect women. A better step would be to surround yourself with advisors and cabinet members who are strong, independent, proven women. I don’t advocate affirmative action selections, but real powerhouses like Condi Rice (an example, not a suggestion).

Ø Drop the idea of a special prosecutor for Hillary. I’m not suggesting that Hillary be exonerated beyond the FBI findings, or that some kind of cover-up is acceptable—only that the current findings stand and law enforcement work outside of politics. I know this will make many Trump supporters extremely unhappy, but political interference is what the Trump campaign complained of during the election, and it does nothing to heal the country or address the issues that the supporters expressed were their greatest passion. Passion has a built in growth factor, and in this election part of that growth included moving from differences on issues to hate the opponent. Any true effort to match the victory speech calling for healing will include removing hate from speech and actions. The first action should be to take politics out of the justice system by personally walking away from this issue–leave it to those whose job it is.

Ø Cut the inflammatory remarks. People can be passionate about their beliefs and desires for a better life without having those passions inflamed. I realize that many of Trump’s detractors also reject Reagan, but in my book he was the master at stirring passions without inflaming the people. Watch some of his videos. Read his speeches. Learn to appeal to the good desires that exist in a majority of Americans, regardless of their political views.

Ø Listen to Pence. We all know that the Vice President is mostly a campaign and political dog and pony show responsibility, but Pence has actual governing experience and it should be used—even exploited!

Ø Realize the best solutions and answers are scattered across many ideologies and parties and that listening to and incorporating others doesn’t require giving up core values and beliefs. Not only will including others provide a better view of the problems, and thus lead to better solutions, it encourages more acceptance to a larger population of Americans.

Suggestions for Trump and Clinton supporters (yes I know, it seems impossible they could be the same, but they really are):

Ø Let it go. This is simply stated but clearly far more difficult to accomplish—especially since those candidates you supported (and who told you to let it go) made it so personal during the campaign. I can’t tell you how to let it go, but perhaps the next suggestion shows a path.

Ø Both groups need to hold Trump accountable for what he said he would do. Of course Trump’s supporters are sure this is easy, but experience shows the greatest danger for any candidate’s supporters is excusing his shortfalls after he is president, as they did before he was president. If this happens, then our country will divide further and the real winners will be the establishment. For Clinton supporters, this is not a suggestion that you accept his positions on issues, only that you raise your voice when he steps away, as well as calling for inclusion in political discourse. One caution, your voice will only have legitimacy if you’ve “let it go.”

Ø Continue to insert yourself in the political process. If you think you’ve won and can rest, the establishment will sweep you away as the dew on the grass. They opposed the voice of the disenfranchised in both parties. They will not stop opposing it. They like special interests. If you were on the losing side and discouraged, stay involved. If this country could best survive based on only the winners’ views, then the founding fathers who gave us this great form of government would have had only one party (one view) from the beginning.

I need to finish with some additional transparency. I personally oppose Bernie’s policies and politics…but I wholeheartedly agreed with his supporters’ desire to overthrow the Democrat establishment. Not because I thought it would help a Republican win, but because I am vehemently opposed to establishment politics that polarize and bring an all or nothing approach to governing.

While the divisiveness has been hurtful, at home and abroad, the best thing that came from the 2016 election is that the majority of Americans woke up and realized their views were not being represented—even by the party they identified most with. This awakening must continue.

If the winners and the losers go back to sleep then the establishment will role back into power. Likewise, if the winners and losers continue to fight and insist on a winner-take-all approach, then we are no better off than with what we had before with establishment-fueled political gridlock and a divided country.

We are the “United” States of America…we need to begin acting like it!