Discerning Democracy again

The Project 2025 crowd was ready and with Elon Musk having bought his way into the role of chief lieutenant, the speed with which our federal government has been transformed is by turns impressive and terribly concerning. President Trump ran as a populist, promising to get rid of the corruption in Washington and make things better for average Americans. But his presidency is promoting a souped-up capitalism, the unfettered acquisition of wealth for individuals and institutions loyal to him. And he’s politicized government as never before.

The money saved from the gutting of federal agencies is supposed to offset some of the cost of the huge tax cuts that are proposed. But isn’t this a terrible deal for the country? The elimination of thousands of jobs and many of the services we rely on. Major scale backs in our investment in education, public health, and scientific research. Thousands of grants canceled, public private partnerships, that support community-based initiatives, like converting old factories into new ones, and cleaning up toxic neighborhood dumps.… How will we ever measure the human and economic costs incurred here? And isn’t it apparent that replacing knowledgeable, seasoned leaders with underqualified Trump loyalists, as happened again last week at National Security Administration, and the turning away from our allies and international partnerships, is making us less safe? No amount of money spent on defense and border security can make up for what’s being lost here.

And while every president is inclined to fully exercise the power of the office, President Trump seems to seek absolute power, openly acting like an autocrat. He’s gotten rid of all those with an oversight role, the Inspectors General, the military’s JAG officers. He is brazenly politicizing the Justice Department and using his office to punish perceived enemies. Attacking judicial independence. Trying to intimidate the press. Attacking universities, etc. with the Republicans in Congress going along, whether in agreement or out of fear, we watch to see whether and where the judiciary will draw the line.

Over all of this, there is widespread concern. For, whatever our political differences, we still share a love for the idea of America and the ideals of democracy.… There is just so much here to process. I struggle with how to respond in a positive way. I know that I don’t want to get caught in reactivity and the endless stream of news and commentary. I go outside. I breathe. And look for grounding around three markers: our shared humanity, the human scale, democracy and how we cultivate it, and the light our faith traditions can shed.

I believe that people are capable of so much goodness and sacrifice. That we are hungry to live lives of purpose, and to be part of something bigger than ourselves. At the same time, there is so much in contemporary life to distract. And so much in this political moment that, I believe, is illusory, disconnected.

Part of my struggle is that I have such a different set of values than what I perceive in the current administration. I reject the idea that some people are more worthy than others. That fame, “winning,” and more material possessions are the measure of a person’s or a nation’s greatness. That might make it right. Are there no values, no ideals, more transcendent than these? What about the common good, what we owe to one another? I believe that our lives and freedoms are mutually constituted. I believe in that “inescapable network of mutuality,” and that America’s amazing diversity is a strength and not something to be suppressed. And that while a politics only defined by identity is problematic, that equity and inclusion are still core American principles.

Just now though, I seek to recall that everyone of us brings a unique set of experiences to the table. That we all see things differently. Moreover, faith teaches me that we all are subject to bias, and that at best, our seeing is only partial. This means there should be an element of reserve in our judgements, including our political judgements. It means we should remain committed to listening to one another, and to discerning the truth as best we can. My faith also teaches me to pay attention to the marginalized. A proper reserve does not preclude passion. Passionate engagement in life. The passionate search for truth. Justice and mercy, sorrow and joy and sacrifice.

For our own health and for the health of our country, we should forsake a politics defined by tribalism, suspicion, and meanness, for a politics focused on the common good and our common life. A politics that is more objective and interested in good policy and consensus building. A politics that honors what unite, rather than what divides us. We should know by now that no one person can fix it. Democracy and life are not spectator sports. We are the dreamers and actors, the cocreators of our families, our communities, our nation and our world.

Steve Bullington

Adrian