It’s no secret that the political climate in the United States is currently tense. Conflict between Republicans and Democrats seems to affect nearly every big issue this election cycle, from President Barack Obama’s decision to put off authorization of the Keystone XL Pipeline until after the elections in November to the House Republicans’ repeated attempts to repeal key provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

Americans have been disappointed in policymakers’ inability to reach compromises. According to a poll conducted by ABC News and The Washington Post, only 26 percent of Americans are optimistic about “our system of government and how well it works.” This is the lowest level of public optimism in the government since these surveys were created in 1974. Both political parties have attempted to use this strife to their advantage by blaming the conflict on the others’ failure to compromise.

While many politicians have followed the example set by their party leaders, former Republican Utah governor and presidential candidate Jon Huntsman has not, and he may pay dearly for it. During an interview in New York City on April 22, Huntsman candidly criticized the GOP and Republican candidates who vied for the party’s presidential nomination this year. He commented that, after observing the slate of Republican presidential candidates before the first primary debate in Iowa last year, he had asked himself, “Is this the best we could do?” This came on the heels of previous comments he made in February calling for the rise of a third party, suggesting that another option in presidential politics would “be a healthy thing.”

Huntsman’s recent remarks offer a refreshing perspective on the political scene. The Republican Party, however, hasn’t been very receptive to his message, revoking their invitation for him to speak at a Republican National Committee fundraising event in Florida. In response, Huntsman boldly stated, “My first thought was, this is what they do in China on party matters if you talk off script.”

Although it might be a stretch to compare the GOP to the Chinese Communist Party — and Huntsman himself said the comment has been taken out of context — Huntsman’s overarching point deserves consideration. While the two-party system has functioned well for most of this country’s history, recently it seems to be discouraging productive dialogue while increasing polarization. The failure of the congressional “super committee” to overcome partisan hurdles and reach an agreement on ways to reduce the nation’s debt has demonstrated the serious problems of the current political polarization.

It is time that Americans from all backgrounds and ideologies ask themselves what they expect from their politicians. If they believe that the current standard of gridlock and rhetoric is acceptable, then Huntsman may be making a moot point. But as the politicians in Washington continue to bicker, issues ranging from the national debt and Medicare’s uncertain future loom and grow in severity. As Huntsman put it, “People forget that we’re in a human game, a people game.”

Some may argue that Huntsman is only stirring up trouble for personal political gain. But I doubt that making such comments will help Huntsman’s political prospects, especially since they have caused him to fall out of favor with his own party. When asked about his own candidacy, he is unafraid to admit that he considers himself a failed politician. After serving an overwhelmingly popular four years as the governor of Utah, Huntsman was unable to make much of an impact on the national stage when he was given the opportunity during the Republican primaries. But he is exactly the type of candidate that should be most attractive to Americans. We shouldn’t be looking to simply throw our support behind candidates who cater to powerful forces within their parties. Too often, these politicians are more concerned with their own upward political mobility than with what is best for their country.

We ought to be conscious of the motives that drive our political leaders. When they do not line up with what is best for our nation’s future, we need to be wary of the status quo. Huntsman’s right-of-center style of campaigning was a losing strategy in the Republican primary, but a winning strategy for politicians in this political climate may be a losing strategy for Americans.