A national poll released last week was evidence of a palpable mood in the country – a desire to leave behind the often vitriolic political discourse in the country.

When it comes to elections and political posturing, degrading has often surpassed debating and truth is often treated like an afterthought.

The recent presidential election was one that divided the nation, as well as communities and households.

The aforementioned poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed large numbers of Americans are tuning out – literally and figuratively – from politics.

The poll, conducted in early December, found that about seven in 10 Democrats say they are stepping back from political news, according to the AP. About six in 10 Republicans say they’ve felt the need to take some time off too, according to the poll.

The fatigue of political discussion is also evident in the diminishing ratings for many political-related TV programs.

Tuning out the noise is a logical step to take. But ignoring the decisions that will shape our lives, of course, is not a positive step, even if it is understandable.

Instead, the best course of action would seem to be to pay attention – not to the insults and distractions – but the substance and the facts.

Elections and constituent feedback can still make a difference in the trajectory of our community and nation, and an informed electorate in this era of misinformation is more important than ever.

As for the political divide, we (and yes, this includes the politicians from both parties who represent us) should remember that we are in this together.

Decisions made impact everyone, and should be made in the spirit of serving the greater good.

As for the public, it may be hard to sort through all the distractions and vitriol, but things will only improve if we stay informed and engaged.