America’s current political climate already is portending that 2024 could end up being one of this nation’s most ugly years ever.

What a terrible observation on which to welcome or anchor a new year, but it is true.

This country is engaged in a dangerous “game” inside politics that really is not a game.

Rather, what is in play is an exercise of hatefulness, bitterness and harshness that could undermine the United States for generations.

Anyone who does not know the meaning of the words “virulent” or “virulence” needs to look them up in a dictionary, pronto, then digest the definitions and try to consider what they could mean for this country both over the short and long terms.

The possibilities are not comforting. They are in fact frightening, reminiscent of what happened at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

But will the current hatefulness, bitterness and harshness spill over to the point that neighbors begin fighting neighbors and colleagues at work try to undermine the work of others in their place of employment, simply because of differing political views?

That must not happen.

People with differing views can and should be open-minded enough to listen to divergent viewpoints so they can maturely evaluate the differences for the purpose of reaching good, reasonable conclusions without stirring up animosities.

This country is destined for a “long ride” if that is not allowed to happen.

During the Watergate scandal during President Richard M. Nixon’s administration, there was strong opposition directed at the president, but the legal processes were permitted to play out without violent threats or actual physical violence aimed at one side or the other.

At that time, the aim was to access the truth of what happened, regardless of in what way the proverbial chips would fall. That is not what is happening now, and the nation is suffering because of the troubling attitudes that currently are being pushed forth.

Of course, there is much more to America than politics, although, as is evident presently, politics is playing an inordinate role in so much else that is going on in the country, some good and some not so good.

Americans must be willing to address issues for the nation’s benefit, not for the benefit of one individual or group of individuals on whichever side of the political aisle they might “reside.”

It might seem wrong, to many individuals, to dwell on one topic or just a couple of topics, in trying to form an opinion about the 12 months ahead. That is understandable.

However, 2024 will be an extraordinary time amid competing, complex issues.

Americans are correct in their anxieties over how the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts will play out in the months ahead and what the associated fallout might be for the United States.

Likewise, Americans are correct in harboring anxieties over such issues as U.S. economic conditions, global warming and immigration.

But at the foundation of it all, they need to be concerned about electing the right people for the tasks that lie ahead.

This new year could end up being one of the nation’s most ugly years ever or it could be something much more positive than that.

The point is that every American has the obligation to help guide the nation’s course in the right direction.