This thread feels like we are parsing minutia and IMO getting it wrong. Each US citizen has a LOT of common ground with every other citizen. Each of us also has differences from every other citizen. A focus on nothing but differences is a recipe for the end of the nation.
Commonalities include everyone's need for food and water, personal safety, the need to change diapers if and when we have babies (or come up with a non-diaper solution), a desire to be pain free and thousands of other common needs, wants etc. Where we differ with communists is on the solutions and how to fulfill those common needs and wants. i.e. mass shootings are a problem. What to do about them divides into totally opposite solutions.
My concern with the Mattis quote is that IME when Democrats say they want a compromise or common ground, they mean that everyone has to agree with them.
