Our democracy is the longest-lasting in history, with our current constitutional system clocking in at 227 years old. Benjamin Franklin, when answering a question from Elizabeth Willing Powel as to what type of government the Constitutional Convention had established, proclaimed “A republic, if you can keep it.” So how do we fulfill the promise of democracy so we can “keep” our republic?
There is a critical threat to the republic when we lose respect for our fellow citizens and treat political opponents as existential enemies. The founders of the Constitution knew this and warned against “a number of citizens…united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.” Furthermore, they warned that these “factions” (as they called them) were responsible for the failures of early historical attempts at democracy.
To celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary, GSPM faculty recorded this message (you may have seen it).
It’s when individuals disrespect one another that revocation of rights becomes rationalized. Unfortunately, it was easier to create the problem than it is to fix it, but there are clues. Most research shows that Americans are more politically divided emotionally than they are ideologically, and that they perceive the other party to be more distant than it actually is.
Studies show that emphasizing common identities and discussing issues in terms of commonly held values can also help reduce partisan divisions. In their book on towns across America, James and Deborah Fallows show that Americans share a lot in common, particularly how much they value the place they live.
Building relationships can also lower partisan animosity. However, research also shows that the effects of these bridge-building activities can be fleeting, so they need to be reinforced frequently.
We’ve had 250 years of freedom, so let’s keep the record going! It turns out that doing so is neither free nor easy. It requires that we talk to our family, friends, and neighbors about what we value and what we share in common. And we have to do it consistently. None of this will happen on its own. It’s up to all of us to “keep the republic.”