Team Democracy: Anchoring our American Values and Responsibilities

Cicero Denounces Catiline 1889

We have certain universal values that should be supported and encourage in society. We must pull the fringes back to the center through shared commitment to our institutions. Americans first and parties second. We have a responsibility to be honest and protect each generation from the selfishness of the few. Democracy is like a sacred torch that must fed with positive thoughts and positive actions to maintain its hard won benefits. Each generation will adjust its meaning ever so slightly expanding the practical adaptability of Democracy. We are limping in our obligations because some in society feel entitled that they should have their way at all costs (A faulty ethical system that can lead down a logical path that can justify political extremism and critical thinking deficits.)

I agree with the danger of outside influence impacting our elections and in turn trying to create internal dissention. Some are unwittingly just blindly ( mental slaves of forms-Plato) who don't question or think about the alternatives. They solidify their distorted deep seated beliefs through emotional encoding and every time they think about the topic they become enraged again. They can't short cut the process unless you reach them early before their emotions are attached or create an inclusive environment where thoughts and beliefs are shared openly in the spirit of learning. (Which may have nothing to do with the topic but only one's perception of the topic. Much of our beliefs and values are subjective but carry similar strains cross culture and cross society.) Add group validity to internal distorted beliefs (i.e. mental health. Why we need mental health and tracking strategies) and you have group justification for rage (feelings of powerlessness).  Give them a target (s) (the scape goat) and you got yourself shared extremism based on the ways in which they communicate, the terms/sayings they use, symbols they create, internal rage, their leaders values, etc....(Some more interesting reading not necessarily in order....Blind Leading Blind, Vervet Monkeys, Embedded Groups,  Interconnected, Economic Influence Social, Social Cognition,  Social Cap Theory, Social Capital. Systems Thinking, Optimism, Socialization Process, Human Perception, Hyper Politics

This is the Safe Pledge the military guys were talking about. It is a pledge to protect democracy through non-violence in the U.S.  We must always be open to truth which means we must first be open to being wrong (A Lot!). I support it even if it is just a reminder on what we should already know (i.e. our oaths and Plead of Allegiance. You can lean more about that in History of Oath). I encourage you to send it to your politicians (Doesn't matter the party.) and ask them to pledge support or you won't have their vote (Seems like much of the problem comes from that arena anyway. They did make a pledge and say it everyday but to many it hasn't sunk in what oath they have given.  Maybe not? 🤷 Time will tell.....)

This quote below is interesting because it highlights that we must always be aware that we know little to nothing about our world (Meaning as we innovate and develop new tools in the Digital Era we will learn more about our environment from reaching further out into space and further inward into molecular biology/DNA) and/or "the truth" shifts because of new understandings (...even its subjective nature. There is always another layer of truth. Dang.....Philosophy!  🤓😂)

“No human being will ever know the Truth, for even if they happen to say it by chance, they would not even know they had done so.” Xenophanes