Hope over Hate

The strength of America, I think, is our culture of self-determination. What we choose to do, and how we do it, is up to each of us. We can make a difference—to ourselves and our community. This sense of ownership creates what Tocqueville saw as “a superabundant force, and an energy which is inseparable from it.” It also creates a hopeful culture—the future can be better because we can make it better.
 
Americans’ confidence has eroded in recent decades. This is due in part to the intrusion of forces beyond any individual’s control—global markets that supplant jobs and opportunities; centralized bureaucracies that suffocate human instincts and interactions; and cultural clashes that dislodge community values.
 
Even Americans who are “doing well” feel pushed around. Doctors retire early, citing excessive red tape. Senior civil servants don’t have the authority to manage their departments. Some of the best members of Congress retire in mid-stream, citing a sense of futility. Teacher burn-out is the norm, not the exception. Business leaders avoid community leadership roles and the gridlock of competing demands.
 
Instead of proposing reforms to re-empower the American spirit, political parties compete by purveying different villains for grievance and hate. Democrats sell identity politics and class warfare. Republicans sell populism and culture warfare. Social media spews fear and distrust into the brains of millions of Americans who no longer have a line of sight into a future within their own control.
 
America needs a positive vision built on the foundational principle of self-determination. Thus: Reboot almost everything in government—so that officials in charge have room to actually make things work, and manage public services to be affordable. Within broad boundaries, give back to communities the freedom to organize themselves by their values. Identify economic dislocations and redirect resources so that hard-working Americans have the dignity of supporting their families.
 
Reviving America’s hopeful culture requires a new political movement. Instead of the tired debate between deregulation vs more regulation, the new vision should be re-empowering human responsibility.
 
Most Americans agree that government needs a new vision. But doing anything new is scary. American must confront the future with clear eyes, not reflexive fear. In this interview on the American Optimist, Joe Lonsdale and I discuss what a framework for human empowerment would look like, and why human accountability is far safer than the current legal minefield. For those just emerging from a deep slumber, Lonsdale is a co-founder of Palantir Technologies and also of the new University of Austin, organized to advance liberal values of free speech, cultural traditions, and civic commitment. Lonsdale is sometimes described as a libertarian activist, so his views on official authority may surprise you.

Thank you for supporting our work. America’s 250th anniversary next year should be an important opportunity to rethink how modern government can be better aligned with founding values.

– Philip

  • Short clips of my interview with Joe Lonsdale are available here and here; you can listen to it as a podcast here.

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