Member-only story
What America Needs Now
Two years ago, in the midst of the Democratic Primary, I wrote about The Leadership We Need, and I still believe in our desperate need for a new path in American civic life.
Here is what I want to hear from President-elect Biden right now:
Thank you for trusting me, at this moment in our history, at this moment of challenge and of opportunity to lead us toward what we can be.
I will work every moment starting right now to keep this country safe and that starts with our collective public health, with elevating and empowering our doctors to take care of us, with empowering and investing in our scientists to help cure and protect us, and turning the tide against this pandemic.
I think we should all just take a moment. A moment of silence for the people we’ve lost. And a prayer for the more than 100,000 of our friends and neighbors who got sick, today.
Look we’re in a tough spot. There’s no two ways about it. A sunny attitude is not enough to get us out of this one. I know that. My son knew that. Where I’m from you roll up your sleeves, you put your differences aside, and you find a way through.
We may be in a tough, dysfunctional, divided place as a nation — but we are not a divided nation. We are the United States of America and can be the nation of justice, equality, opportunity we have always strived to be.
We believe in justice. What are you willing to do to make our communities safe, fair, and vibrant?
We believe in equality. If you’re at the top, what are you willing to do to elevate your neighbors who are at the bottom?
We all need a fair, competitive economy. What are you willing to do to create opportunity in every community in America? What are we willing to do to unlock creativity, innovation, and the unbounded ambition of America?
Democracy is something we do together. What we believe is that foundation of how we act, but we must act, work, serve. Each of us must take our seat around the circle that is America — our circle is incomplete without every single one of us at work for each other.
The pendulum swing of American politics is a wrecking ball destroying our nation.
We must set down our hunger…
