The Soul of the Union

I understand the concern expressed in The State of the Union. America is yanked apart by the loudest voices at the edges. That is not who we are.

Most Americans do not fit neatly into any one box. A mix of views defy simple categories. We agree with Bernie Sanders on the need to confront inequality and still believe in the power of markets to create opportunity. We share AOC’s concern for justice and still value fiscal responsibility. We cheer Mamdani’s commitment to affordability and still believe that lasting change comes when public purpose meets private ingenuity. We pull life lessons from religious text without embracing related political dictates.

The figures who dominate make good television and profit off “rage entrepreneurship.” They do not, and cannot, reflect the real views of the moral center. Technology has given them a louder microphone, but amplification is not representation.

The majority of the citizenry just wants to live with dignity, security, and an aspirational belief for the next generation. How we get there is the only difference. That diversity of thought is the very point of democracy. And why the securus locus that is the Highland City Club is so vital.

Complexity is not contradiction. The union is not divided. We just need our elected officials to amplify that message. Maybe I’ll run for office…