A little statement of principles

I strongly believe in democracy as the only legitimate governance system, and in universal human rights. At least in theory, by and large, the US has been a force for these things for the last 80 years or so, despite failings and setbacks. Clearly we are now headed in the wrong direction. But equally important are the principles that (1) government must be free of corruption. Zero tolerance. And (2) that universally available high-standards education must be publicly supported. In both of these respects, the US has declined and is headed, apparently, for rapid further decline. To those of us who grew up believing in an ideal of America, this is extremely disheartening.

I point to Singapore as a counterexample of these last two "pillars." In that small country, democracy and human rights have taken a back seat, but in the areas of education and zero tolerance for public corruption, their system proves that these principles are also vital to the health and wealth of a society. (You have to pay your public officials very well, but tolerate no corruption whatsoever). 

May we learn from this, and return to governance that makes each of these pillars of good government to be of paramount importance once again. We're going to have a long way to go to rise from these ashes, but, as Timothy Snyder says, we must imagine, and always work towards, a better America. We must never give up. We must never condone or comply in advance with arbitrary authority, with repression, with corruption, or with tolerance of lies and willful ignorance. We must consider these pillars a bare minimum. A floor, from which a prosperous and healthy society must be built. It is those of us who believe in these ideals who must, in actuality, make America great again. Nothing less should be considered acceptable, much less patriotic.