What's vital in a representative democracy: effective citizens

If you’re at all like me, it probably feels like we’ve already been through at least three different presidential election years so far this year. And given the pace of events, it’s a good bet that between now and November, there’s more to come. The presidential contest has so thoroughly dominated our attention — not to mention news cycles — that even the Senate and House races have pretty much disappeared from view. In this environment, the central role that ordinary Americans play — except as poll respondents — isn’t even an afterthought.

Which is a little troubling, given how critical effective citizenship remains to our representative democracy. Each of us has a responsibility to do what we can to help the country grapple with its challenges and problems — to roll up our sleeves when things are in doubt and make a difference. Our strength and vitality as a country rest on the involvement of millions of people in their neighborhoods and communities, in interest groups and civic organizations, in groups agitating for change and groups defending the status quo. As one person, you can’t solve all the problems of the world — but you can try to make your corner of the world better. That’s what our system calls on us to do.

So just what does this take? I believe that being an effective citizen requires a few skills and qualities.

First and maybe most important, it takes a belief that change is possible, and that the United States can make progress over time thanks to the efforts both of ordinary people and of political leaders. I think back to a speech that Barack Obama gave as president in which he noted that by almost every measure, the country had moved forward over the decades: less poverty, less crime, more Americans with college degrees, more women in the workforce, healthier cities, a more diverse economy … We’ve got no shortage of work to do, but on the whole, I’ll take where most Americans stand in their lives today over what things looked like even 40 years ago. Our system is working better for more people than it did then.

The people who helped make this happen understood two things: that progress was possible and that it required their efforts. I think it’s fair to say that those who were most effective made a difference because they had the skills to do so. Yes, things like organizing ability matter, but I’m talking more about fundamental abilities that are within reach for all of us, and that we should all share if we’re to solve problems in a society that’s filled with people who have different beliefs, perspectives and experiences. Things like knowing how to work together with all kinds of people, being able to look for common ground, being forthright about our goals, knowing how to forge connections to others who can help advance a cause, building consensus and communicating ideas effectively.

I used the word “skills” above, but in the end, good citizenship is as much about temperament as it is about ability. Mutual respect, tolerance, empathy, civility, humility, honesty, resolve — these are the homespun virtues our nation requires of its citizens, not because they’re nice to see, but because in a vibrant and diverse society they’re what it takes to make progress and honor the democracy we want to preserve.

I frequently hear from people who are exasperated by the obstacles they have to overcome. Their fellow citizens are uninformed, or politicians are too self-interested, or the bureaucracy is impenetrable, or officials are more interested in protecting turf than improving others’ lives. All of those could be problems, but here’s the thing: There will always be problems. You just have to plug away at overcoming them.

The key thing to remember is this: representative democracy is not all about the presidency. We — you, me, our fellow citizens — are responsible for the future of both our neighborhoods and our nation as a whole. That’s not going to get a lot of attention this election year, but whatever happens in November, it’s going to be as true afterward as it’s been throughout our history.

Writer Lee Hamilton was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years. He is a Senior Advisor for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government and a professor at the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs.