Pre-election conversations that I’ve had with people of varying affiliations all agree on one thing – our system is broken, polarized and unlikely, in its current form, to tackle any of the many pressing problems facing our nation.
If we examine our country’s guiding principle: “Of the people, by the people and for the people.” It seems that we are not doing very well in any of the three areas. I would suggest that as a people, we have a role in turning the situation around.
Start by Being Informed: As you head to the polls, I encourage you to ignore the sound bites and fear-based ads. Instead, do the research yourself. It has never been easier to find a candidate’s history, voting pattern and the degree to which their claims (either about their accomplishments or their opponent’s record) are accurate.
Stop Looking for a Savior: When times are tough and people are afraid, they long for that one person that will save them, that will have all the answers, that will make it all better. And of course to do that without a misstep and perfectly aligned with their own ideas and ideals. Reconcile yourself to the fact that this is an impossible expectation. Provide those elected with some grace and forgiveness.
Step Up: JFK said it quite eloquently: “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your county.” The July census reports that there are 311,591,917 people in the US. Collectively, that is an amazing amount of human potential to:
- Create jobs
- Educate our youth
- Clean up the environment
- Shape the political dialogue and decisions
- Create strong communities
- Build strong relationships across the globe
As I’ve listened to each candidate, not one has asked the US citizenry to do their part. In my mind, this creates a false illusion that the work that needs to be done can be done through policy and without effort or toil. I think that is both misleading and wrong.
Refuse to Add to the Decisiveness: Our country was built on the notion that people would have different ideas, viewpoints and worldviews – and that there was a way to give all a voice and yet still come to a shared agreement about how to proceed. That notion is the cornerstone of the system of checks and balances – why we have senators and representatives, why we have 3 branches of government. We’ve allowed the polarization to seep into every aspect of government via an increasingly contentious two party system – in a way that has not existed in the past. For democracy to work, we must be able to hear each other, consider other views, work together for the common good.
It’s too long for this post, but if you’d like to explore what you can do on an individual level, I encourage you to pick up Parker J. Palmer’s book, Healing the Heart of Democracy. If you are not a reader you can view this short video clip in which Palmer shares that he, too, was weeping. But he took that angst to provide a thoughtful exploration that will give you hope and some specific ideas on ways “we the people” might restore democracy in the US.
2 Responses
Excellent post Kris!! I am going to try to get this on my LinkedIn updates! I am so sad with the polarization too…. when did we become a nation of “tribes”. I would add that sometimes I feel like we are in the Middle East or the Balkins or Africa… with all the “tribal warfare”. Our warfare does not use mass weapons…. but rather or pens and toungs…. both which can be just as dangerous!
Nice post. 311 million and the vast majority waiting for someone else to do the work. I wish we had more of the pioneer spirit that burned the ships, endured unimaginable hardships, and gave their lives to obtain the rights we take for granted…and even neglect. They were the ultimate entrepreneurs.