The biggest obstacle here may be that there are too many in both tribes who don't WANT to try to "heal the divide", and ironically, the person who started this thread would be in that group.Currently, the only reform on the docket that might help to heal the divide is ranked choice voting. It's making progress, but facing stiff resistance from those who feed on the divide.
Right now, the higher priority appears to just be "beating" (somehow) the other tribe. As long as that's the priority, those who want that will be able to impede any progress.
It may be that it has been so long that we went down this road that we no longer have the capacity to go back. Those who want to see this country split up might then get what they (think they) want.
"Exceptional"? Bullshit.