"We the People." Our 1.___________ begins with those three simple words, words we've come to recognize mean all the people, not just some; words that insist we 2._________ and fall together. That brings me to the fourth, and maybe the most important thing I want to say tonight. The future we want – opportunity and 3.___________ for our families; a rising standard of living and a sustainable, peaceful planet for our kids – all that is within our reach. But it will only happen if we work together. It will only happen if we can have rational, constructive debates. It will only happen if we fix our 4.____________. A better politics doesn't mean we have to agree on everything. This is a big country, with 5.___________ regions and attitudes and interests. That's one of our strengths, too. Our Founders distributed 6._____________ between states and branches of government, and expected us to argue, just as they did, over the size and shape of government, over commerce and foreign relations, over the meaning of 7.__________ and the imperatives of security. But democracy does require basic bonds of trust between its citizens. It doesn't work if we think the people who 8.__________ with us are all motivated by malice, or that our political opponents are unpatriotic. Democracy grinds to a halt without a willingness to compromise; or when even basic facts are contested, and we listen only to those who agree with us. Our public life withers when only the most extreme voices get attention. Most of all, democracy breaks down when the average person feels their 9.__________ doesn't matter; that the system is rigged in favor of the rich or the powerful or some narrow interest. Too many Americans feel that way right now. It's one of the few regrets of my presidency – that the rancor and 10.____________ between the parties has gotten worse instead of better. There's no doubt a president with the gifts of Lincoln or Roosevelt might have better bridged the divide, and I guarantee I'll keep trying to be better so long as I hold this office.