Most of the many email newsletters I subscribe to are related to the literary world, be they on writing, publishing, publicity, editing, reviewing or just notes from some favorite or enjoyed authors. A few of the newsletters are financial ones, my favorite of those being a daily summary of Wall Street entitled the Wells Fargo Daily Advantage. Until recently, Peter Nulty was the sole author of each summary, but with age and other sundry interests, he’s begun sharing the daily writing load. In addition to finding Peter’s writing terrifically entertaining over the years, I’ve found his summations and observations much to my liking and in agreement with much of my thinking. So, it’s been with mixed feelings that I’ve read the work of his alternates. Thus far, I’ve nothing to complain about. In fact, today I will share a portion of this evening’s summary with you. One of the appealing aspects of the Wells Fargo Daily Advantage is that the authors make each summary personal. At the conclusion of the market information, there is a personal anecdote or personal experience or personal presentation. A little story to close out the day. I’ve never found them overbearing, never ostentatious, never pretentious, never demanding, never offensive. They’ve been simple, fun, eloquent reads – quiet summations clarifying the implications or effects of the day’s financial battles or major news stories. Today, staff writer Jeremy Ryan delivered a particularly invigorating description of democracy.
In my previous life as a philosophy teacher I would give a naive little speech to my students imploring them to vote. I would tell them that not every country respects this right; that in many places oppression is the norm and tyranny the rule; and that democracy, far from being a run-of-the-mill political system on par with all the others, is in fact the most revolutionary system there is, precisely because it is not easy but is one of the hardest things we as humans can do. Democracy, we should never forget, goes against every instinct we have. Here, I’d hit my full rhetorical stride, and continue in my misguided attempt to inspire them or die trying:
It’s easy to acquiesce in the face of power and rest complacently in the knowledge that at least we’re comfortable. It’s easy to shift responsibility for the ultimate shape of our country onto others. It’s easy to say, “It’s my way or no way.” It’s easy to do nothing.
What’s not easy is fighting hard for what you believe in, all the while knowing that you have to accept the outcome if the votes go against you. What’s not easy is training our elected officials to voluntarily give up power when we tell them to leave, and to keep their kicking and screaming to a minimum on the way out the door. What’s not easy is thinking about more than yourself, but instead taking responsibility for your city, your state, and your country. What’s not easy is doing all of this knowing full well that there are fundamental disagreements on all sides about all things, as there always have been and always will be, and that, for a brief moment in the voting booth, there is no one in charge but you, as you assume responsibility for the whole lot of it. Democracy is neither natural nor easy. You have to learn it, but once you learn its power you’re hooked.
“Democracy is neither natural nor easy.” “What’s not easy is thinking about more than yourself, but instead taking responsibility for your city, your state, and your country.” “It’s easy to shift responsibility for the ultimate shape of our country onto others.”
I haven’t heard it said better in a long time. I couldn’t say it as well myself. Democracy transcends affiliation of any sort; with any party, any race, any gender, any class, any heritage, any societal grouping, any claim. Nothing outside the true measure of an individual should dictate a truly democratic decision. What, after all, is a person, but the summation of past words and deeds? Not claims, not promises, not stories or retellings – accomplishments. Unlike the stock market, a person’s past performance is an indicator of future results.
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