We are living in almost unprecedented times. Many problems have piled up on top of one another in a way younger Americans have never seen – and older Americans haven’t seen for many decades. Making things worse, many of us feel either very frustrated and apathetic or very angry about what has been going on.
In response, we are sharing a few timeless ideas for these difficult times.
- The framers who drafted our Constitution knew we humans will always be fighting amongst ourselves – so they planned for it. They came up with a system that divided and shared powers in so many ways that no one faction could easily dominate the others. A federal republic. They also agreed to a set of civil liberties and civil rights that were eventually extended to all Americans. (See our short courses on America: Republic or Democracy, the Presidency, Congress, and Federalism.)
- Thus, the system the framers came up with made political competition safe – losing an election or losing control of Congress does not mean the winners get to keep power forever, nor does it mean tyranny for the losers.
- The framer’s system also made it impossible for any one faction to decide how to solve a problem. Under our Constitution, the only way forward is to find solutions enough people on both sides of an issue can agree on. Dividing people against each other and confusing them will not work.
Since some political actors will never accept the ideas above, it is our duty as Americans to keep our spirits up and help those around us do the same. (Our short course on how to fight fear-mongering might help.) Work to stay in the light. Do not succumb to the darkness.
