America’s promise of greatness rests upon several supporting pillars, including the integrity and work ethic of our people, as unleashed by our rights stated in our Constitution. Our democratic republic is designed to be “government by the people.” The quality of our government, therefore, rests upon the quality of our people, including our honesty, courage and vigilant participation in our democracy. Consequently, the quality of our government will never be better than the quality of the people and the demands of the people for good government.
A small percentage of Americans will always be truthful, hardworking and caring, even when they are surrounded by the deceit and corruption of many. Another small percentage of Americans will lie, cheat and steal to the extent that they perceive benefit from such activities. They are constrained solely by the threat of being caught and punished. That leaves the rest of us. Most Americans are certainly capable of honesty, integrity, kindness and great acts of courage, when we believe that a critical mass of our fellow Americans are also playing by the rules. Such characteristics were demonstrated by the “Greatest Generation” during the last century. The dark side of America also has been demonstrated by the people during the short life span of our democracy in our treatment of Native Americans and our disgraceful history of slavery. It is painfully obvious that “We the People” are capable of both selfless acts of justice, kindness and heroism as well as tyranny, oppression and fraud. Such is apparently the nature of being human.
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