As Americans prepare to talk politics this holiday season, it is a good time to share something quite positive about the future of politics. My optimism stems from the recent political behavior of Gen Z Americans, who represent a real opportunity for the country to move forward from its years of partisan polarization. While polls regularly present the story of a politically pessimistic Gen Z view of the future, there is real cause to be sanguine.

Stories and surveys abound that describe Gen Z’s negative views toward politics and the future of the nation. A survey sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation, for instance, found numerous causes for concern. In particular, 60% of Gen Zers believe America is a divided country. Similarly, Gen Zers have not felt that major institutions are listening to them; just 34% believe their favorite brands are in touch with them, barely a quarter (24%) feel like global companies understand them, and just a fifth (20%) maintain that the government understands them.